Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The weather is set to take a turn in the UK, with storm warnings setting off travel alerts. Weather warnings have been upgraded for most of Scotland as Storm Floris bears down on the UK. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US markets cracked sharply last Friday, and experts are aiming to discover what happened.  Job market slumps, economic uncertainty and growing tariff tensions have been highlighted as key factors behind the drop. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A pair of Aussie comedians have taken a satirical look at the annoying aspects of the workplace in their book 'Wankernomics'. Are we guilty of using annoying phrases and spending too much time on LinkedIn. Donald Trump surprised New Zealand with a 15 percent tariff last week - do we stand a chance at negotiating a better deal?  The Government is set to scrap NCEA and overhaul the whole educational system - what do we make of this? Were these changes needed?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis Energy and the three other big power generators have signed agreements to establish a strategic energy reserve centred on Genesis’ Huntly Power Station. The deals - aimed at supporting national security of power supply - have been settled by Genesis, Meridian Energy, Mercury NZ and Contact Energy. The parties intend for the agreements to take effect from January 1, 2026. Genesis Energy chief executive Malcolm Johns says there's a clear case to keep the plant going - and Genesis couldn't do it on its own.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister reckons New Zealand will eventually be able to work out a better deal with the Trump administration following last week's shock announcement. President Donald Trump has unveiled a surprise 15 percent tariff on New Zealand - higher than that for both the UK and Australia.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there's a possibility things could improve, given the changing trading relationship between both nations. "The question for us is - if it does change, does that mean we get better treatment?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 4 August 2025, Education Minister Erica Stanford explains why she's scrapping NCEA and how our school kids will be assessed in the future. Former top cop Jevon McSkimming appeared in the Wellington High Court today after being charged with possession of objectionable material. Herald Investigations Journalist Jared Savage tells Heather he allegedly had child exploitation and bestiality content on his devices. Can we really negotiate a better trade deal after the US slapped us with a surprise 15% tariff? Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hopeful. From "circling back", to cringe LinkedIn posts - two comedians have come up with the guide to mastering the corporate world and its "office wankery". Plus, the Huddle responds to the big changes to the NCEA regime and Trish and Josie confess to using some office jargon. 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.

You can't accuse Erica Stanford of mucking around, can you? NCEA is gone. Marks out of 100 are back, grades from A to E are back, needing to pass 4 subjects at least in order to get the qualification is back. Now, how long have we been talking about the need to do this? About the fact that NCEA is rubbish, that it's been gamed, that it's not respected by employers, that it's not understood by parents? How long have we talked about this?  And then within 18 months of Erica Stanford taking over the education portfolio, the changes are made.  This is absolutely, by the way, the right thing to do. Nowhere, in none of the assessments of what's happening at NCEA Level 1, 2 or 3, do you hear anyone say - hey, you know what, this is a good system. It's always criticism. The ERA had a look at NCEA Level 1 last year and they found such big problems with that they recommended getting rid of it. NZQA last year found only half of year 12 students actually finished 3 full subjects. They didn't even get to do 3 full subjects, but they somehow managed to pass NCEA. NZCER found that learning was not the focus of school at NCEA level anymore, assessment was. The OECD two years ago found what we always know is going on lately and our ability to read, write and do maths was slipping. It had now fallen below the OECD average. The NZQA Insights paper found a huge number of kids got Level 3 because it's easy, but UE, the old equivalent, they couldn't get it because it's not easy.  Now, none of this is news to us, right? Some of these reports actually date back to 2018, 7 years ago. Yet NCEA hasn't been scrapped until now. Now, this is brave, because any change this big is brave, but especially, it's brave right now at a time when secondary school teachers are already dealing with a lot. They have a curriculum refresh on the go. They've got new compulsory exams already now, they've got this. They are busy and they're about to get busier. And while I feel for them, and I do, our kids are too important and their education is too important to muck around. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White-collar workers will be familiar with workplace annoyances - including unnecessary meetings, corporate acronyms and an overuse of LinkedIn - and it's all been observed by a pair of Aussie comedians. The duo put modern workplace culture under the microscope in their book - 'Wankernomics'. Co-author James Schloeffel says he's spent a long time in the corporate world and he's used this book to discuss the issues he's observed over the years. "But I think, also, it's a way for other people to have that therapy session too. It is quite cathartic, I think, reading this book." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has claimed it's 'unlikely' that New Zealand will be able to make Trump change his mind about the tariffs - and many experts agree with that sentiment. Trump recently raised New Zealand's tariff rate to 15 percent, while keeping Australia and the UK at 10 percent. Trade Minister Todd McClay will head to Washington in the coming weeks to argue our case, but Felicity Roxburgh from the International Business Forum agrees Trump is unlikely to budge. "We do believe it's still worth making an attempt to go and talk to them. The other thing to remember is that we have supported, more or less, the Government's approach." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's proposing to entirely phase out NCEA within five years - saying New Zealand needs a schooling system that sets students up for success. It wants to scrap NCEA over the next five years, in favour of a literacy and numeracy test in year 11 - and certificates the next two years. Education Minister Erica Stanford says it's worth creating something New Zealand can stand behind, rather than leaning on systems like the Cambridge Exams.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming might have struggled to hold on to his suppression order. He faces eight charges of possessing objectionable material containing child exploitation and bestiality.  A gag order lapsed today.  NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage revealed major media companies had joined to oppose the order continuing. "Given the significant public interest in this, I think it would have been very hard for a judge to maintain the status quo." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's pushed forward in overhauling NCEA, and it's sparked debate among experts. The Government wants to phase out the school qualification system in five years, replacing level one with a literacy and numeracy test, and level two and three with Education Certificates.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks these changes - and reveals why a change to the system is overdue. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Premier of the Australian state of Victoria has announced plans to enshrine working from home into law. Under Jacinta Allan’s plan, workers would be entitled to work from home at least two days per week - if the role allows for it. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says business groups have since hit out at this move - and claimed this would decimate CBD spending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glass half-full mindset from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign. Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter and Tevita Mafileo - along with Finlay Christie, George Bower and Josh Lord - comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's North Shore Hospital has a 20-bed ward full of people, with no medical reason to be there. It was created in May for medically discharged patients who still require lower-level help from places like an aged-care facility, who have nowhere appropriate to go. Some stay for weeks, looked after by nurses and allied staff such as physiotherapists and social workers. Sarah Dalton from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says it's a sign of the nation's inability to properly resource community-based care. "We shouldn't just think about hospitals when we think about access to healthcare." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 1 August. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has increased New Zealand's tariff from 10% to 15%. This increase comes as Australia remains on the previous 10%, prompting questions around the New Zealand government's handling of negotiations.  Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this increase could have a bigger impact than many people realise. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ on Air has its fingers crossed its financial support of Shortland St won't be forever.  New Zealand's longest-running drama's been granted 2.5 million in funding for its 2026 season, to help the show transition to the audience's preference of online viewing.  NZ on Air CEO Cam Harland told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they also provided funding last year, but hoped it would assist the show moving to a more financially sustainable place.   But he says the economic environment for ad funded media hasn't improved.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New South Wales is celebrating its new programme - poaching cops from other states - and abroad.  21 experienced, poached, officers are graduating in the Australian state today - seven of them from New Zealand.  The New South Wales Police Minister, Yasmin Catley, is attributing it to a historic pay rise last year - making them the best paid officers in Australia.  Catley told Heather du Plessis-Allan she makes no apologies for taking police from elsewhere.   She says the graduates are looking forward to the endless opportunities in New South Wales.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, was our government too relaxed about the tariffs then?   Cause this is a shock today – isn't it? To find out that we’ve just been bumped up to 15% while Australia and dozens of other countries have stayed on 10%.  Now, it seems to be related, most likely, to our balance of trade and that the US has a trade deficit with us. So we get 15%, but then a trade surplus with Australia, so they get 10%. So perhaps it was inevitable and unavoidable, as long as the balance of trade sat like that.  But then, on the other hand, Australia did kind of lock that in as well. They lifted their ban on US beef imports while we did nothing. Should we have done something similar Because if there's one thing that we know about Donald Trump, it's that he's a trader.  South Korea had their tariff dropped from 25% to 15% by promising to buy $100 million worth of LNG. Sir Keir Starmer sucked up to Trump with a letter from King Charles.   Now we don’t actually know what our diplomats were doing, because they were fairly guarded about it. But the vibe that we kept getting from ministers and officials every time we asked about it was, ‘not a lot going on, we’ll see how this goes, we’re on 10%, we’re no worse than anyone else’  That’s the trouble, though. We are now worse than other people. We export beef to the US, Australia exports beef to the US. Their beef now gets 10%, ours gets 15%.  Now, we can argue about whether US consumers are really going to switch up their $11.50 New Zealand steak if the Aussie steak is only 50 cents cheaper. I mean, what's really the difference between $11.50 and $11? But I chose a butter last night because it was $1 cheaper than the other butter, so maybe they will, which brings me to the question that I asked at the start of this.  Were we too relaxed?  Because we definitely and quite deliberately opted for Winston's head below the parapet approach. But maybe what we should have done was opted for the same approach that Albanese and Starmer took, which is to suck up instead. Given where we are and where they are - both their countries are now on 10% and we're sitting on 15%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister's hitting the phones, as it's confirmed US tariffs on New Zealand will be higher than when they were first announced. The Trump administration has confirmed base tariffs will now be 15 percent -- up from 10, in a decision that impacts countries including New Zealand. It's believed the new rate applies to those with a trade deficit with the US. Todd McClay told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he's seeking an urgent call with American representatives on this. He says it's disappointing and challenging for exporters, and while there are opportunities, tariffs aren't good for trade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is facing a shortage of school board members, as only 60% of the 10,000 required spots have been filled.  School Board Association President Meredith Kennett says that it’s up to community members to get involved.  She told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, ‘it's important that communities continue to get engaged in their school.’  Although the numbers look sub-par now, Kennett says she is expecting a boost in numbers over the weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump's flown back to the US after a brief visit to Scotland, but he's revealed he's not done with the region just yet. Trump expressed interest in leading Scotland after he's done with America - and said Scotland was full of 'fine people'. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's important not to underestimate Trump - given how the last 8-9 years have panned out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 is nearly halfway over - and it's been a memorable one for the markets so far. Between new developments in AI, ongoing economic uncertainty and Donald Trump's string of tariff announcements, investors have had to contend with a lot of unique factors. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further - and reveals what investors can expect for the months ahead. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Farmer Confidence survey shows farmers are seeing one of the highest lifts in confidence in recent memory. The July survey shows the rural mood has improved significantly this year, rebounding from record lows 12 months ago. The Country's Hamish McKay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   Did Emergency Management go overboard with their alerts regarding the tsunami? Or is it better to be safe than sorry?   The Chief of Navy has ordered Kiwi sailors to stop drinking irresponsibly, saying alcohol substance misuse is undermining the organisation. Do we agree with this? The leader of Gloriavale is officially a sex offender after pleading guilty to 12 charges mid-trial. Is it time to shut down Gloriavale for good?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland company is part of a consortium which has secured nearly $18 million in UK Government funding to help Jaguar Land Rover recycle old EV batteries. Mint Innovation, along with LiBatt Recycling and Warwick University, will help develop technology to extract lithium, nickel and cobalt from used batteries. Mint Innovation CEO Dr Will Barker says the company is scaling to be one of the leaders in recovering valuable metal from e-waste.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 31 July 2025, Civil Defence Director John Price has defended emergency warnings sent out across the country - and says there continues to be a tsunami risk. Minister for Defence and Intelligence, Judith Collins, explains why the FBI is opening its own office in Wellington. Oil and gas exploration has been officially unbanned - Energy Resources Aotearoa is hopeful that this will actually lead to some exploration. Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp weighs in on a warning by the Chief of Navy to his sailors to stop the excessive boozing. Plus, the Huddle debates whether now is the time to shut down Gloriavale after its leader pleaded guilty to assault charges. 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.

So the national emergency alarm that bugged a nation was the big talking point in New Zealand today. There's a million stories about the alarm, and here's mine:  The first alarm yesterday afternoon at 4:30pm I welcomed. I'd been out and about and didn't know about the Russian earthquake. So I looked up the story and quickly ascertained there were hours before this could become a problem. This was important because my partner was commuting home on a ferry at 5:40pm and we needed to know if anything would happen. I checked the AT app and phoned her and the day continued on as normal. The next alarm this morning was interesting. We knew of the threat and we knew that it was around about then that waves would arrive. So I expected an update on the wave strength after tsunami monitoring across the oceans. None of that info was there. It was the same alert as last night. So, again, we looked up the story and again, we decided it would be fine so Helen went off to catch the 8am ferry. As she left, she said if there's going to be a wave then she'd rather be on a big boat than on the esplanade. I think that was a joke.   As it turned out everybody ignored the alert this morning. People walked dogs on beaches. The north-western motorway causeway did not close. Nor did Tamaki Drive. Then the Minister came on with Kerre to explain why we had these alarms. I thought the main takeaway from that was so that we could make an informed decision. Which my family did. So I don't mind the alerts. I'd rather have a false alarm than no alarm at all in a dangerous decision. But the fear here is that people will begin to ignore all alerts and not make informed decisions - and that could end badly. But my main concern is that the information did not seem to be updated in the 12 hours after the earthquake hit.  I wonder if our ocean monitoring is working - and if it isn't, then that's the real concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government crossed the final hurdle of overturning the oil and gas exploration ban as of today. The bill passed 68 votes to 54, with all coalition parties in support and the opposition parties opposed. Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie has voiced support for this change. "We've all felt the effect of an energy shortage over the last couple of years - in terms of the threat of electricity blackouts, factory closures and high prices, and actually, we don't need to stay on this path. This bill reflects a change of path."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Defence Minister is commending the Navy Chief's stance on irresponsible drinking. A directive from Rear Admiral Garin Golding points to multiple alcohol-related incidents in the past month at various levels, domestically and internationally. It says alcohol undermines health, wellbeing and decision-making across the Navy. Current Defence Minister Judith Collins says no Chief should have to deal with it. Wayne Mapp says this order will tackle the issue at its core. "Changing expectations, giving briefings, giving counselling - getting the things done that actually reduces these problems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a new strengthening of the partnership between our police and security agencies and the FBI. The bureau is opening a stand alone office in Wellington, meaning they're established in all Five Eyes countries. Minister for Defence, SIS and GCSB Judith Collins says it will work on combating terrorism, organised crime, and foreign intelligence threats. "Whether it's people trafficking fentanyl, which is a big focus at the moment for the FBI - but also methamphetamine, which is one of our big focus areas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cautionary handling of the effects of Russia's earthquake, which triggered tsunami phone alerts and some coastal evacuation, has been further explained. The 8.8 magnitude quake shunted tsunami waves across the Pacific - the largest to hit our shores, landing on the Chatham Islands at 51 centimetres.  Unpredictable currents are expected to continue until tomorrow.  Civil Defence Director John Price says precautions are important - and he's defending the use of emergency alerts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and gas exploration is once again allowed in New Zealand. Coalition parties voted to overturn the ban introduced by the previous Government to strong resistance from all opposition parties. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls wonders what this means for investors - and if they'll want to commit to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's parliament on Thursday passed a law to cut student loans by 20 percent - removing over AU$16 billion in debt for 3 million people. During this year's election, Labor made cutting student debt a key election promise, framing it as a measure to ease living costs and tackle intergenerational inequality. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained that the student loan cuts weren't just for degree holders, but trade students also got some of their course-related debts waived too. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are in danger of missing out on competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It’s understood the International Cricket Council has opted to use a regional qualifying format to select the six teams to contest the men’s T20 tournament. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains why the side may not make the cut. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's keeping tabs on how much councils are spending and where the money's going. Yearly performance metrics are out for each council, showing rates rises, revenue, debt levels, expenditure, and whether the budget's balanced. Monitoring comes as the Government considers a rates cap. Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden says successive years of underfunding and borrowing has contributed to the region's notable debt levels. "Obviously, there will be nuances and context that will not be able to be read into the figures. I think, give it a bit of time, we'll get used to this and the tables could provide some useful information." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK and France both vowed to recognise Palestine as a state if Israel doesn't agree to a ceasefire, but Israel has voiced opposition to this proposal. Prime Minister Netanyahu has accused UK PM Keir Starmer of 'appeasement' following the announcement. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Starmer remains committed to the move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has given the green light to a partial privatisation for KiwiBank. The bank now has the opportunity to raise up to $500 million from investors.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the deal further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of a historically strong labour market, there are now growing signs of softening beneath the surface. Work opportunities in the US are dwindling amid ongoing economic uncertainty, with the Trump administration's policies contributing to high unemployment figures. Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen explains further. 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! The UK is threatening Israel with recognising the state of Palestine if it doesn't agree to a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Is this a terrible bargaining chip - or you do what you've got to do? Australia wants to ban under-16s from using YouTube off the back of their social media ban for teenagers. Do we think this is a good idea? Netball NZ has just signed a new broadcasting deal with TVNZ - will this help netball turn its viewership around? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know that story about the gang numbers cracking the 10,000 mark? That's classic gotcha politics, isn't it? It doesn't count when the number is 9,999, but once it hits 10,000 - or in this case, 10,009 - it's a thing, and it's the Government's fault. Is it the Government's fault though? I mean, should we actually be angry at Mark Mitchell for this one? I don't think so. I think that what we're seeing right now is the result of stuff that has already happened, mainly- with the deportation of criminals from Australia and the recession that we're in. Recessions lead to an increase in crime for obvious reasons, and the deportation of serious criminals will lead to an increase in gang numbers - probably for a while yet actually - until the likes of the Comancheros and any other heavy outfit that's been brought here from Australia has maxed out its recruitment drive in New Zealand. I think it's highly ironic that Ginny Andersen is the one moaning about this. Do you need me to remind you of Ginny Andersen? Ginny Andersen was one of Labour's run of Police Ministers who totally took their foot off the throat of the gangs when they were in power. Ginny Andersen was the Police Minister at the time that the gang was basically allowed to take over Opotiki for the tangi. Remember that? At least under this Government and this particular Police Minister, police have been given the understanding that they are to crack down on gangs.  There have been a huge number of arrests. There are no gang tangi taking over small town roads anymore and there are no gang patches. Laura, the producer, lives out in West Auckland. She reckons she used to see a gang patch every single day, but doesn't see them now. None at all. Now, it doesn't mean that the gang members are gone. You can still see them around the place, they just walk around in their colours, you know, without the patches. Just look for someone wearing an unusual amount of primary colour red. That generally denotes a Mongrel Mob member. Look for somebody with a lot of yellow going on, that's generally somebody from the Comancheros. Lots of primary blue, that'll be your Black Power there. I saw one in his gang colours in Bunnings the other day. But at least they do not have the belief that they can walk around intimidating good people in public places because they don't have their patch on - and them being stripped of that belief actually counts for a lot. Now, I'm not happy the gang numbers have gone up, but they have. And I expect they're gonna keep going up for a while until this economy turns around and the pool of recruits available to the Aussie imports starts drying up. That is not the fault of this Government and it is also not the fault of this Police Minister. And what counts for a lot more is at least these gangs are being cracked down on now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 July 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis explains why she's given the green light for a partial privatisation of Kiwibank. Air NZ has a new CEO. His name is Nikhil Ravishankar and Forsyth Barr's Andy Bowley tells Heather what we can read into the appointment. Australia will include YouTube in its social media ban for under 16s - is that going too far, or should NZ do the same? TVNZ's Melodie Robinson spills the beans on the new broadcast deal with Netball NZ - and whether money will actually change hands. Plus, the Huddle debates whether the UK made a mistake threatening Israel with recognising Palestine as a state. 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.

The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce have warned that the Government’s proposed ban on retail payment surcharges risks hitting small businesses with higher costs. Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, acknowledged that the Government was trying to protect consumers from additional fees - but voiced concerns about what this ban could do for smaller operators. He says the ban isn't a cost-free exercise - and someone will have to pay the merchant fees.  "It's either going to be through price hikes that consumers may not appreciate or understand - or it's going to be the poor old SME in areas like retail, hospo, tourism that are going to be having to find a way to pay for it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wider global recognition of Palestine is within sight - but it's unclear how much weight that will carry. The UK and France plan to join many national already recognising Palestinian statehood in September, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.  Our Government has joined others supporting a two-state solution and is open to recognising Palestine - in time. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa chair, John Minto, says Israel has made it almost impossible to form a Palestinian state. "All Palestinians have got left is a piece of Swiss cheese, so you've got all of these Israeli settlements on their land connected by roads which Palestinians are not allowed to drive on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is extending its under-16s social media ban to YouTube. Legislation passed last year excluded blocking the video-sharing service, because of its role in education and children’s entertainment. The ban covered Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. The  co-chair of child online safety advocacy group, Before 16, Cecilia Robinson says YouTube is as big a part of social media as other platforms - and should have always been on the list. "YouTube, and specifically YouTube shorts, operate in the same way as TikTok does. So why they had an exemption in the first place is mind-boggling." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's new CEO appointment isn't a shock within the sector, according to one expert. Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar will step up to replace Greg Foran in October. Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley says he's unsure whether this appointment suggests a lack of international interest. "There's been a reasonable understanding that he was one of the leading - if not the leading - internal candidates. So in that regard, it's not necessarily a surprise." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's floating the idea of listing KiwiBank on the stock exchange.  Cabinet has given KiwiBank's parent company the green light to raise an extra $500 million. However, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this won't occur without an electoral mandate. "That will be for individual parties to take a position at the election - but I've been advised that any potential public offering could take place before 2028." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Minister's agreeing with an Act MP that recognising Palestine while Hamas holds hostages would be 'rewarding terrorism'. Simon Court raised the question in Parliament, after Winston Peters expressed support for a two-state solution - after a ceasefire and hostage releases. International condemnation's growing over Israel blocking aid and starving civilians in Gaza, including children. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says New Zealand will adopt the UK's stance on Palestine eventually, but concerns have been raised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are scrambling to higher ground across the Pacific, after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's east. It's recorded four-metre waves, with half-metre waves reaching Japan and tsunami alerts in effect for Alaska, Hawaii and the entire US west coast. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Hawaiian residents are 'scrambling' - and traffic is building up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.