Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Thousands have been left stranded by flooding overnight in New South Wales. NSW State Emergency Services personnel have rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and rooftops in the Mid North Coast and Hunter region - while thousands have lost power or been isolated by inundated roads.  One person has died and five have been reported missing. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says multiple small towns have been cut off - and rescue efforts are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Ferns are finding a balance between World Cup prep and putting out a winning side for Saturday's Pacific Four game against the United States. Four players are in line to debut - including Sevens duo Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has been quick to voice his concerns with the 2025 Budget. Hipkins took aim at the pay equity changes - and opposed the new initiatives around oil and gas. "If you think about it - it's saying to women that they're worth less, it's saying to all working New Zealanders that your KiwiSaver, when you reach retirement, will be worth less." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t want to start on a bum note, but if you share my view that this country is in a hot mess financially, then this Budget is underwhelming, disappointing - you pick your epithet. It’s called the growth Budget, but there's no growth in it. The only growth is a result of a tax incentive scheme which is a good idea - but doesn’t go far enough. It lifts GDP by, get this, 1 percent over 20 years. What is that? Is that growth or a rounding error?  In fact, the Budget is full of this kind of thing - good ideas that are only half baked. Cutting 18 and 19 year olds off the dole and making the parents taking responsibility is a great idea - but it's so full of loopholes, so you can see exactly how those kids are going to get around the rules and stay on the dole. Cutting the Government KiwiSaver contribution to rich people is exactly what should happen - but it should be cut to everyone. The gas exploration money is exactly what needs to happen - but it's tiny, a couple of hundred million dollars in an industry that talks in billions. Five billion dollars of savings and cuts - which is small. That's the same amount we rack up in interest payments on our debt in just 7 months. So if you were hoping for something to turn this ship around, something that supercharges growth or slashes spending or really gets us out of the financial trouble we’re in - this is not it. This is a budget of good ideas that don’t go far enough. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 65,000 Airbnb listings in Spain are set to be shut down amid a row over runaway house prices in the country. The Government has come under increasing pressure to tame a surge in house prices and rents, which have doubled in less than a decade in some tourism hotspots. Airbnb listings have been partly blamed for swallowing up the housing stock in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia - and mass protests have started up ahead of the summer season. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says many young people have been locked out of the housing market as a result of over-tourism - and there's growing calls for change.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 is set to be revealed to the nation tomorrow - and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised it will be a “No BS Budget” with “some surprises”. Willis will take a step towards unwinding the expansion of Government that accompanied (and followed) the pandemic - while growing the economy. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny outlines some questions she hopes to see resolved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Conor English from Government relations firm Silvereye and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Should Tonkin + Taylor sack the staffer who was caught heckling Winston Peters?  Waitakere Hospital ED raised some eyebrows when they started handing out vouchers for patients to go to urgent care clinics. What do we make of this? It's Budget Day tomorrow - what do we hope to get out of it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mastercard has recently released a survey showing a significant amount of Kiwis want credit card surcharges banned. The data shows 61 percent of respondents would support a ban and 75 percent don't believe surcharges are fair - and 44 percent feel retailers should absorb the costs. Consumer NZ's Acting Head of Research and Advocacy, Jessica Walker, says the surcharge debate is a complicated topic. "Businesses are charged a fee for using these payment networks - and of course, Visa and Mastercard are going to benefit from surcharges being banned, because it means more people will use Visa and Mastercard." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A record number of businesses have sought advice about redundancies in the first three months of the year, according to new Employers and Manufacturers Association data. EMA’s AdviceLine received 403 queries from businesses on the topic of restructuring and redundancies last quarter - almost double that in the same period two years ago (204). EMA’s head of advocacy and strategy Alan McDonald says this reflects many years of tough economic conditions. "The last resort play for a lot of businesses when they look at their costs is - well, we're going to have to restructure the number of people. And that's what's happening." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 21 May 2025, is international pressure on Israel having an effect? Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall tells Heather so far no aid has got through to starving people in Gaza.  The Revenue Minister explains why the Government will no longer try to make big tech companies like Google and Meta pay more tax.  Sad news as iconic Auckland retailer Smith & Caughey announced it will close forever after trying to save its business for over a year.  Plus, the Huddle debates whether Tonkin & Taylor should sack the naughty employee who had a very public go at Winston Peters. 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.

Free speech advocates says Tonkin + Taylor doesn't need to apologise for an employee allegedly heckling the Deputy Prime Minister.  A man appearing to be wearing a company lanyard yelled and swore at Winston Peters after an announcement on rail funding at Wellington's train station. The engineering firm has since apologised and says it'll investigate. The Free Speech Union's Nick Hanne says there's a line between work and personal expression.  "This is an issue that isn't actually directly related to the work that their employee does - and of course to what they do as a company - so it just seems like complete over-reach." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strong primary sector performance has produced a billion-dollar monthly trade surplus - for the first time in five years. Stats NZ data reveals it sat on $1.4 billion dollars in April, compared with a $12 million dollar deficit for the same time last year. Export NZ Executive Director, Joshua Tan, says it's a team effort across the food and fibre sector. He says dairy, red meat, fruit and wood exports have all risen by millions of dollars. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a shifting international view of Israel as its war on Gaza shows little sign of relenting.  After global pressure, including from the US, Israel has relented on a months-long blockade and let in limited aid - but none's been distributed so far.  It's also continued firing on Gaza, where more than 53,000 people have died to date.  Sky News' Alistair Bunkall says there's a strong sense - even among Isarelis - that the country has taken this too far.  "There is a political dynamic to it for Netanyahu's own political reasons - and they are opposed to it and the damage that it's doing on their nation's reputation internationally." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Revenue Minister says Donald Trump was a factor in scrapping the incoming Digital Services Tax Bill. A legacy of the last Government, it would've imposed a three percent tax on revenue from Kiwis - earned by the likes of Facebook and Google. The US President has called such legislation 'overseas extortion', and said he'd act against it. Simon Watts says they considered recent developments, including in the US. "But at the end of the day - I took a look at this tax, we've been looking at it a bit and it's got some real drawback - and we've made the decision to pull it from the agenda." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters is doubling down on criticising a passer-by who heckled him yesterday after an announcement on rail funding. Environmental and engineering firm Tonkin + Taylor says it's looking into a report a man wearing a staff lanyard swore at the minister. The Minister said he doesn't care if he loses his job. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's earlier announcement that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer has revived questions about what health issues the former US president was facing while in office. President Donald Trump recently claimed he was 'surprised' the public wasn't notified a long time ago - and this doctor also earlier said Biden was cognitively fine. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says people are curious about why more wasn't revealed sooner. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An admission from Super Rugby officials that the refereeing panel made a mistake disallowing a Moana Pasifika try to Millennium Sanerivi in their victory over the Blues last weekend. A try can only be overturned if there is an infringement in the final attacking passage of play - but they went back for a foot in touch earlier. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a widespread global shortage of ADHD medication - and it's hitting Kiwis hard. A survey by ADHD New Zealand of people prescribed with ADHD medication found that over half were struggling to get what they needed - and one third of respondents were worried they would lose their jobs if they weren't properly medicated. ADHD New Zealand spokesperson Darrin Bull says people in schools and universities are also struggling under the current shortage. "This is a global issue - it's just not New Zealand, there are particular issues in the UK and Australia as well. It's a supply chain issue." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was Tonkin + Taylor right to apologise to Winston Peters for the employee heckling him? Of course they were! They don't want to be associated with this kind of behaviour. The guy was wearing their work lanyard, it clearly identified him as a staffer and I had his name and photo land in my inbox at 4:41 yesterday afternoon. Which is to say - people had already figured out who he is and who he works for. And if Tonkin + Taylor said nothing, rightly or wrongly, - there would be people who would assume they were fine with his behaviour or shared his views. So it was a reputational risk for them to remain quiet. And they were right to publicly distance themselves from him - and an apology to Winston Peters seems like a perfectly reasonable way of doing it. Also, it’s perfectly reasonable for them to call Mr Bollocks into the office and remind him not to embarrass them while he’s wearing a work lanyard. I think that seems fair. But I think that’s where it has to end. The Free Speech Union raises some decent points - he should not be punished or fired for it, he's entitled to his views and he’s entitled to make a dick of himself in his own time if he wants to, which he clearly does. His free speech should be defended, but so should the free speech of his chief executive, who didn’t like what she saw and wanted to say she was sorry on behalf of her company. Free speech cuts both ways. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is hailing a new era of relations with Europe, as they seek closer ties on trade and defence. The new deal signals a resetting of ties with the European Union post-Brexit, and could mean significant trade benefits for Britain. It'll be easier to trade food across the border, and allow the UK to access EU funds for defence development. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this development puts an end to the 'little Britain' experiment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports indicate a critical part of the Government’s plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next five years appears to have fallen over. A huge chunk of the Government’s climate success rests on a single project, which the owner now says probably won’t happen because it doesn’t stack up commercially. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's less than two days to go until Budget Day 2025, and experts are outlining their predictions. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hinted this won't be a 'lolly scramble' and plenty of cuts will have to take place. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The suspension debate for the three Māori Party MPs has been postponed until June 5 in a surprise move. Do we think this is the right call? It's been revealed Auckland Council spent $3 million on communications and advertising for the green food scrap bins -  do we need to scrap them for good? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, that ended up being a fizzer, didn't it? I mean, wow, here we were. We were expecting this big debate over the Māori Party punishments to drag on for days, if not weeks, and overshadow the Budget - and the blinking thing didn't even last an hour. It got postponed to next month. What happened was, in retrospect, very simple and very obvious, just a move from the Government. It came to the Government's turn to talk about it - and up pops Chris Bishop, Leader of the House. He says - hey, I move it gets postponed, and guess what, it gets postponed because the Government has the majority in the House, so they simply voted for that, and there we go, clear air for the Budget. Most relieved, I would say, would be the Government, because it means that they do get clear air for the Budget on Thursday. Most bummed out, I would imagine, would be the Māori Party - who'd even gone to the effort of organizing a protest on the full court of Parliament. So basically, what's happened is we put this thing to bed for a few weeks because of a checkmate move from Chris Bishop. But while we've got this pause, can I just make an observation? It's quite remarkable how quickly this has gone from being a thing about the deliberate flouting of rules consistently by a party doing it as part of a PR strategy to being a thing about the National-led Government using parliamentary process to banish MPs they don't like, thereby turning us into a "banana republic". This is the kind of reportage that I'm reading at the moment. Suspending the Māori Party MPs threatens democracy. It is a drastic step that looks, on the face of it, undemocratic. Those are two different articles, by the way - it seems to be a theme that's emerging. But hang on a minute here, because it's going to take a lot to convince me that this is the case of a heavy-handed Government silencing innocent dissent - because I haven't forgotten how we got here. I haven't forgotten that the Māori Party planned to disrupt Parliament that day. They planned to disrupt it - and then they carried out that plan. I haven't forgotten that Debbie Ngarewa-Packer pointed her fingers in the shape of a gun at another MP and that the Māori Party refused to turn up to the Privileges Committee when they were asked to - and when they were supposed to. I haven't forgotten that that the Māori Party refused to apologize and accept they've done anything wrong and that the Māori Party then leaked the recommendations of the Privileges Committee, which is against the rules, and that the Māori Party co-leaders have said that they will do this again - most likely with the Regulatory Standards bill. I haven't forgotten any of that stuff. And it's remarkable to me how quickly people want to turn this into a bad Government story instead of a bad opposition story. And it's also remarkable to me how quickly people have forgotten what this party did to end up here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 20 May 2025, Leader of the House Chris Bishop speaks to Heather after his surprise move to delay the much anticipated debate about Maori Party MPs' punishments. Former Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell defends the MPs right to haka in the house without being punished. Auckland Council has spent $3 million dollars on PR and marketing for its food scrap bins - and Heather is delighted with a campaign to get rid of them. Plus, Stacey Mowbray from concussion and brain injury charity Headway calls for a controversial Runit straight competition to be called off.   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.

After years of delay, Aucklanders can expect to receive their property valuations early next month. Auckland Council says it expected to deliver the new valuations, commonly known as capital values (CVs), in the week of June 9 to June 13. Property commentator Ashley Church says it's unlikely this will make a difference in overall valuations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debate on Te Pāti Māori's proposed punishment has been paused until June - but it's still sparked discussion among some. Debate was set to begin today on proposed suspensions for the Te Pāti Māori MPs who did a haka during voting on the Treaty Principles Bill - before the Government moved to adjourn it. Despite this, former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has spoken in defence of Te Pāti Māori. "The bigger kaupapa here is around an ability for Māori to express their views in the Parliament of our land - and allow that to happen on the back of what has happened through history in Parliament." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health professionals have voiced concerns as the Runit Championship League makes its debut in Auckland. The controversial new combat sport has players running full force at each other. Stacey Mowbray, Headway CEO, says this sport presents high risks of brain injury - and the research agrees. "One thing that worries us is - have these people been fully informed? Listening to people involved in it, they didn't actually seem to realise there was a difference...we want to educate people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tide looks to be changing for Gull as the leader of low-priced petrol offerings. Fuel-finding app Gaspy is reporting Taupo's Gull Ātiamuri has been undercut by Z-Energy's Waikaraka U-GO in South Auckland. AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins says Gull paved the way with its New Zealand- owned self-service model.  He explained it has a low cost entry, with electronic payment options meaning stations don't need staff - and the fuel's there.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACC Minister denies his comments last week played into the agency now pausing its sexual violence prevention programme.  Scott Simpson suggested he was looking at narrowing the scope of ACC responsibilities to sexual abuse victims. ACC has confirmed it's paused the nationwide rollout of Hikitia - as it aligns itself with Government plans. Simpson now says there's no connection, and he has no intention to shed ACC's responsibilities.  "All they've done is just pause this programme while they have a look at it, evaluate it and make sure that they're getting the best results for the victims of sexual violence." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Leader of the House says postponing the debate on Te Pāti Māori MPs' sanctions is the right thing to do.  Debate began today on proposed suspensions for the Te Pāti Māori MPs who did a haka during voting on the now-rejected Treaty Principles Bill.  But 20 minutes in, the Government moved to adjourn it - to leave this week free to be all about the Budget.  The opposition were blindsided. Chris Bishop says he was under no obligation to tell them.  "There'll be many a chance for people to have their say on the appropriate punishment in a couple of weeks. As it stands, the Government is in favour of the report of the Committee." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A stay - for Te Pāti Māori MPs expecting debate on possible suspension today. The Privileges Committee recommended suspensions for Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for a protest haka during voting on the contentious Treaty Principles Bill. But 20 minutes after the debate began, Parliament's voted to adjourn it. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacked today's events - and discussed why National wanted the focus off this matter during Budget week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian's opposition has split - officially ending the Liberal-National coalition. National leader David Littleproud has confirmed his party will stand apart from Sussan Ley's Liberals, but he's leaving the door open.  The coalition had an election thrashing this month. Leader Peter Dutton lost his seat and Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scored a second term.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds unpacks what this means for both parties going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sonny Bill Williams is adamant that his upcoming boxing bout against Paul Gallen will be the last time he steps in the ring. The former All Blacks and Kiwis star has finally been confirmed to fight State of Origin league enforcer Paul Gallen on July 16 in Sydney. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins. This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far. Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective. "Auckland Council spends about $36 million a year on the programme - that's a lot. And only a third of Aucklanders actually use it - and even that number seems a little high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Negotiations to reset the UK's post-Brexit relations reached a turning point - with leaders holding talks ahead of an upcoming summit. Both regions recently reached a 12-year deal giving fishing access for EU boats in UK waters. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moody's cut the US credit rating by one notch, citing rising debt and interest payments that outpace those of similar sovereigns.  The downgrade to 'Aa1' from 'Aaa' follows a change in the outlook on the sovereign in 2023 due to wider fiscal deficit and higher interest payments, according to new data. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commercial users of gas are likely to be hit hard by 'unsustainable' prices this year, according to sector regulators. The Gas Industry Company’s latest quarterly report said average spot prices rose sharply in the first three months of 2025 as production continued to decline and demand remained relatively constant.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie explains what this could mean for the sector. 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! Is Auckland Council out of line for making the owner of a Mt Eden villa remove the new windows because they violate heritage rules? Is this over the top?  Budget 2025 is due out this week - but will the Te Pāti Māori saga overshadow it?  Is Gary Lineker's recent controversy proof adults should stay off social media? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've got a life tip for you - Grownups should not post their opinions on social media. Case in point, Gary Lineker. Now, Gary is about to announce that he's leaving his job at the BBC because of a social media post. This, in the UK, is very big news. Gary's a very popular host. He's the highest earner at the BBC because of how popular he is. He gets a salary of about $3 million New Zealand dollars, he's a former professional football player - I wager that if you ask anyone in the UK who Gary Lineker is, they'll be able to tell you. That's how well known he is. But he just torpedoed his own career by reposting a pro-Palestine video on social media that criticized Zionism and included an illustration of a rat. Now know your history on this - a rat is an image that was used in Nazi Germany to characterize Jews as vermin. You don't get away with that, you've got to know what you're doing there. And the thing about it is this wasn't even Gary's first mistake. Like with the first mistake - you could cut the guy a bit of slack. Then he posted about migrant policy, got in trouble, posted about the Tories, got in trouble, posted about politics in general, got in trouble, and he'd be given many chances to learn that having a rant on on social media gets you in trouble - but he just couldn't stop himself. When it came to posting that video and the little image of the rat, now he's gone. It is mind-blowing to me that in 2025, after 20 years of social media and of people getting in trouble, we still have people doing this. I mean, we just had 'Bussy Galore', we had Damian O'Connor last year saying Hamas was justified in what they did on October 7th to women and children, we had Penny Henare posting a picture of David Seymour with poo coming out of his eyes and a bumhole for a mouth. I mean, these are grown adults. It's like kindergarten stuff, isn't it? You'd think people would think, would learn that it's not worth it, but I guess the dopamine hit you get from people loving what you say and the narcissism - those things are strong motivators, it would transpire. Here's the thing - some people need social media for work. Influencers, for example, or the Māori Party, who appear to do all their politics on there or politicians who need it for publicity. And maybe, for them, the rules are a bit different. Maybe they just need to stick to the subject at hand, like footballers post about football and nothing else, and the  Māori Party post about politics and nothing else. And maybe don't tweet after you've been drinking. But for the rest of us, get off it. Adults do not need social media. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 19 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis speaks to Heather ahead of Budget Day later this week. Is she worried the debate about the suspension of Maori Party MPs will overshadow her big week? US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley has details about former President Joe Biden's terminal cancer diagnosis. Butter has got so expensive that people are buying boxes of cheap butter from Costco. Former Costco boss Patrick Noone explains why butter at Costco is half as expensive as elsewhere. Plus, the Huddle debates whether a Mt Eden homeowner should be made to rip out his new aluminium windows because they're not compliant with heritage rules. 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 2025 Budget is due out this week - and the Finance Minister's feeling hopeful despite the concerns around Te Pāti Māori's antics. Prime Minister Chris Luxon made it clear earlier today that National will not make any concessions on the Privileges Committee's recommendation to suspend three Te Pāti Māori MPs from Parliament. Nicola Willis says this week is all about the Budget - which aims to address concerns Kiwis have about the cost of living. "We just need to focus on the things that will make a difference to people. We can't control Te Pāti Māori, they will do what they want to do."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The owners of a Mt Eden villa has voiced disapproval after Auckland Council demanded they remove double-glazed windows from their house to comply with heritage rules - claiming the order is 'expensive' and 'unnecessary'. The new windows have aluminium frames instead of the traditional timber frames - and open up to the outsides, rather than side upwards like the traditional sash windows. Alex Witten-Hannah, a lawyer representing the homeowners, hopes the council will take a 'common-sense' approach and back off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bustle of butter-buying at Auckland's Costco - where it costs $10 a kilo. Stats NZ figures show the price of a block of butter has soared 65 percent in the past year. Videos on social media show shoppers piling boxes of the spread into carts at the bulk-buy supermarket. Former Costco managing director, Patrick Noone, says the store's very unlikely to try to stop bulk buying.  He explained they did it once when eggs were short - but if they can supply it, they'll let people buy as much as they can. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Energy Minister says reversing natural gas policies will take time.  Production fell 20 percent in the first quarter - compared on the year before - to 22.85 petajoules.  Industry spokespeople say available gas is depleting and exploration of new fields is banned. Shane Jones says the last Government wanted the sector shut down - and faith needs to be restored it has a future.  "Since 2018 and 2019, when the curtain came down on the industry, people stopped drilling and people lost confidence - that there would be no future for fossil fuel in New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns over extreme staff shortages in rural hospitals - as the Government announces funding to help urgent and after-hours care.  Patient Voice Aotearoa has revealed more than 20 rural hospitals across the country are looking for one or more locum doctors. The Far North's Dargaville, Bay of Islands, and Kaitaia hospitals are doctor-less - and relying on telehealth. Chair Malcolm Mulholland says it's unclear how we can staff extra services - and we have to do more to keep doctors here. "This is the problem that we've got - whether we're looking at GPs or specialists who operate within our hospitals, we simply don't have enough." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says the Budget's designed to give businesses even more confidence for the future. The Budget, released on Thursday, will put aside $65 million over four years, for loosening rules that might put off overseas investors from choosing New Zealand. Nicola Willis says we can't let debt keep blowing out forever - and would risk the economy crumbling away if we allow major extra taxes or excessive borrowing.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls speculates about other future changes that could be unveiled ahead of Budget day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grieving Australian families feel 'insulted' by silence around the death of two teens in Laos last year. Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died alongside four others staying at Nana Backpackers hostel - after accidentally drinking methanol in alcohol shots. In latest news, up to 13 people may face charges related to food and health security, eliminating evidence, and unlawful business.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the parents of the victims have been met with silence from Laos authorities - and they're not happy about it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been another successful weekend for Auckland FC - and all hopes are on the Kiwi side ahead of the A-League Grand Final. The Black Knights are returning home with no injury concerns from the 1-nil away win over Melbourne Victory in the first leg of the semi-final. Sportstalk host Jason pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis has come after earlier intense public scrutiny of his health fitness for the presidency.  The former US President has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, with possible treatment available, although it's not curable and has spread to his bones.  US correspondent Jonathan Kearsly says it comes at an interesting time - when his legacy is being questioned.  "Hard questions, obviously, over his health, his mental acuity while he was in office - and now, two days before a book is set to be released about those very concerns." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.