Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chris Hipkins says Kiwis are starting to see things are going backwards under the current Government.  The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll reveals more voters blame the coalition for the struggling economy, than the previous Labour Government. This is despite senior Cabinet Ministers claiming a financial mess was left behind by Labour. Hipkins says Labour will set out ways it could improve the economy, but right now the ball's in the Government's court. "We've got to get New Zealand investing in productive businesses, rather than just relying on the housing market going up in value in order to grow our economy."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruapehu's mayor is hoping to reach out to investors to save the historic Chateau Tongariro. A petition with over 15,000 signatures was presented to MPs in Wellington today, as the chateau's future hangs in the balance. Weston Kirton says he wants the Government to break down the barriers preventing the building from getting fixed and provide a pathway for the future. "We know that there are investors out there who are prepared to put forward their money towards this. We're not talking about taxpayers funding this project, we're talking about getting a platform for investors."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geordie Beamish has won the 3000 metres steeplechase at the world championships in Tokyo, making history in New Zealand track.  He's the first Kiwi to secure a running victory in the 42-year history of the meet. Athletics NZ chief executive Cam Mitchell was present at the race - and says he believed Beamish had it in him.  "It was a pretty special night, it was amazing to be there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders will no longer be able to look to adopt children from overseas and bring them home from this week.  The Government's Adoption Amendment Bill's been introduced under urgency, and will suspend recognition of unsafe international adoptions to prevent harm.  It also restricts the Family Court from granting adoptions where the adoptive parent or child are overseas. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the bill - and reveals why the changes are the way to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia and Papua New Guinea will agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack as part of a new defence agreement set to be signed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is currently in Papua New Guinea to commemorate the country's independence anniversary. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says the defence agreement is designed to protect both nations from security threats, which remain a consistent concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's division among Aucklanders over whether more events should take place at Eden Park. The Government's set to review the current regulations impacting the stadium, including the number of concerts taking place and their duration.  Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighs in on the debate - and what incoming changes could mean for the future of New Zealand sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing pleas for broader changes to adoption laws before an international ban lifts.  The Government's looking to suspend some international adoptions until 2027 while it works on new adoption laws due to safety and child abuse concerns. Adoption researcher Dr Barbara Sumner says other legislation also needs changing, noting overseas adoptees switch to the 1955 Adoption Act on arrival. "There are no guarantees that any adoptive home is safe. No checks, no balances - because once you're under the 55 Act, it's not welfare." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has refused to be interviewed by Scotland Yard detectives before his release. Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist, is set to get out of prison in his native Germany this week and could be allowed to leave the country with no restrictions. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Brueckner has refused to reveal why he's not taking part in this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data suggests New Zealand's economic turmoil is far from over. New economic data from Stats NZ prompted BNZ to increase its estimate of the size of the contraction in the economy in the three months to the end of June. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new service has been launched that's designed to show mobile network outages in real time. The service builds on the Hourua partnership between Spark and One NZ, and experts believe it'll be helpful for operations taking place during natural emergencies, such as cyclones. One NZ CEO Jason Paris says this development means services will be able to be restored during emergencies much quicker. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis has responded to protesters chained to the outside of her Johnsonville electorate office. The group of Christian leaders want an urgent timeline from the Government for implementing sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza. They're praying and fasting - and say they're prepared to stay overnight. Willis says she supports the right to protest, however they're getting in the way of people who want to get help from her office. She says security have been engaged by Parliamentary Services, and security have been engaging with the police. Five clergy were trespassed from Simeon Brown's Pakuranga electorate office earlier today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 15 September 2025, Health NZ is backtracking its 24/7 visitor policy after a huge backlash. Al Dietschin from the nurses union is welcoming the review. Looks like Eden Park could start to host even more events in the future. The Government has launched a review into the current consenting rules. Anglican Vicar Mel McKenzie explains why she has chained herself to Nicola Willis' electorate office. Plus, the Huddle debates whether coach or captain should be blamed for the All Blacks' miserable loss. 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.

Are we sure that Scott Barrett should be the captain? This is the thing that I've been thinking about for the last two weeks watching the games, it's what struck me when I watched the game at Eden Park and the ceremony for Ardie Savea's 100 tests, and the fact that the team clearly rallied not only to defend the fortress, which I think was predominantly what they were rallying for, but also they rallied to give Ardie Savea a fitting win. Watching that happen and watching the ceremony afterwards and clearly seeing the love that the team had for him, did you not think it at any point during that - I wonder if that man should actually be the captain? And then this week, I saw the press conference with Razor and Scott Barrett sitting next to him, and I had the same thought, but the mirror of it, which was - should that man really be the captain? It just didn’t feel the same, you know what I mean.  And this is nothing against Scott Barrett, who clearly comes from a lovely family and seems like a fun guy. But I can't understand Razor’s commitment to him. There should be no question about a captain's selection, right? There was no question that Richie McCaw would be the one named at #7. There was no question that Kieran Read would be the one named at #8. But is Scott as convincing? Are you sure he's going to be the one named in his position? Are you sure that his discipline is good enough to warrant being the captain, or are there too many red cards and too many yellow cards week in, week out that suggest that maybe when he's under pressure, he just crumbles a little bit? Is he the right leader on field when the team starts falling behind? Given the fact that his record as a captain has largely been with the formidable Crusaders, has he actually had enough losses and enough knocks in his career to know what to do when your team is on the underside and absolutely on track to lose the game, and you need to turn it around, you need to get a win under your belt? Because is that actually what happened, what went wrong on Saturday night? When they started losing, and you saw it on the field, they just all gave up at a point. Did they all give up because their captain had given up? Now, there is an argument that the coaches should come under scrutiny first before the captain, and maybe that is the correct order of things. And frankly, I don't know enough about the assistant coaches to really have an opinion one way or the other. But I think when it comes to the captain, many of us have already come to the right conclusion and the same conclusion here, which is that they may have the wrong captain. 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!  What do we make of Health NZ's new proposed 24/7 visitor policy? No one seems to be a fan of it - is it a terrible idea?  The All Blacks got thoroughly trounced over the weekend and suffered a historic defeat to the Springboks in Wellington. Are some new changes needed? Does the team need a new captain - or new coach? The Government has launched an inquiry into Eden Park - and whether current rules are holding the venue back from reaching its full potential. Do we think this is the way to go? Can we do anything about the e-scooters? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More events across the board could be coming to Auckland's Eden Park. RMA Minister Chris Bishop will lead an investigation into local rules impacting the number of concerts and sporting events that can be held and curfews impacting how long they can run for.   Currently, only 12 music events and 25 night-time sports fixtures can be held each year, while conferences can't have more than 2000 people.   Tourism Minister Louise Upston says Eden Park should have the flexibility to host any large-scale event that boosts the economy. "Whether it's an add on to a convention that we're hosting at the NZICC for 3,000 people and they want to do a dinner offsite and Eden Park makes sense - we want to be able to just get on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of Christian leaders who have chained themselves to Nicola Willis' Johnsonville electorate office are vowing to stay there overnight. They want an urgent timeline from the Government for implementing sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza. Reverend Mel McKenzie says they're fasting in solidarity with the people of Palestine. "We're just so focused on the suffering that's happening in Gaza and we're doing what Anglican and Catholic priests do - which is to pray and fast." Nicola Willis says she supports the right to peaceful protest - but adds their presence is blocking the public's access to her office and its staff members who would otherwise be able to provide help to the community. Five clergy were trespassed from Simeon Brown's Pakuranga electorate office earlier today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relief from the nurses union over Health New Zealand's decision to review a hospital visitor hours expansion.  The agency was intending to introduce a policy allowing nominated family members to support patients in hospital 24/7, outside visiting hours. It will now review this following feedback.  Healthcare Assistant and Nurses Organisation delegate Al Dietschin says there are no restrictive policies around family support currently.  "While it's good to have family support, we shouldn't be doing it at the expense of a shortage of HCAs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's running its eyes over rules for big events at Eden Park - hoping to attract more money to Auckland.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon says the Government will investigate changing the rules if they hinder economic growth. Currently, only 12 music events and 25 night-time sports fixtures can be held each year, while conferences can't have more than 2000 people.   Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's likely the Government will move ahead with these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government is set to pour $12 billion into a submarine and naval shipbuilding facility in Western Australia in a bid to speed up the delivery of AUKUS. The Trump administration has been pressuring Australia to boost defence spending as the Pentagon reviews the AUKUS deal. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to meet US officials in New York in the coming days to discuss this further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi rugby fans are speculating about what's changed after the All Blacks got trounced in their second test against South Africa. The 43-10 result in Wellington marks the side's highest margin of defeat - a week after extending their undefeated run at Eden Park to 51 matches. Sportstalk host Jason Pine speculates further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACC claims for e-scooter injuries have almost doubled since 2020, with the number expected to continue increasing. They cost taxpayers almost $14.5 million in 2024 - while $10.3 million has been paid out so far this year. Christchurch is leading the pack in scooter injuries, with over 400 claims lodged so far in 2025. Flamingo co-founder Jacksen Love has blamed a lack of proper regulations, but he's hoping new policy changes will improve things. "We welcome the recent Government announcement that e-scooters will soon be able to operate in bike lanes - I think it's a really positive step." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 12 September 2025, the big protest across the Harbour Bridge in Auckland has been called off because of high winds. Relieving Waitemata District Commander Stefan Sagar tells Heather why police were going to let the protest happen, even though NZTA said no. Have secondary teachers lost their room with a whole week of strike action next week? PPTA president Chris Abercrombie defends the strike. There's angst in Wellington because people might soon start exploring for gold near the ecosanctuary of Zealandia. Travis Mackay is the only person who has been granted permission so far - he says it's all a storm in a teacup. Plus, the Sports Huddle disagrees on whether the All Blacks can make it 2/2 against South Africa and who is to blame for the netball debacle this week? 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.

Weather aside, I actually think police did do the right thing saying yes to that march taking place across the harbour Bridge, which will now not take place tomorrow but at a later date. My biggest problem with it would be that it would set a precedent, but it's actually not setting a precedent because the precedent was probably already set last year by the anti-Treaty principles Hikoi, which happened in November. And now as a result, we are dealing with the predictable problem of letting one protest walk across, which means that we have to let every major protest walk across if they want to. So here we find ourselves. But I do think, having said all of that, I do think it is the right thing to do because what it is doing is allowing a controlled protest to take place that will achieve what the protest organizers want, which is big publicity to draw attention to what's happening in Gaza. Now, a protest across the harbour bridge is surely a better outcome than protesters finding other ways to get the same kind of publicity. I mean, this week in Spain, look what's happened. The protesters disrupted the Grand Tour so many times that there is now talk that the race may be abandoned before the final leg is finished on Sunday. I would much rather just have a march across the harbour Bridge. A lawyer in Auckland has just been convicted for vandalizing politicians’ electorate offices with red paint, including Christopher Luxon's. I would rather that she just put down her paint and went for a march across the harbour Bridge. In a way, the real precedent actually has been set by Sydney where they allowed the protesters to cross their harbour Bridge in August. Now, really, put yourself in the position of the police. How could they say no when it had already happened in Sydney? So I know whenever this finally does happen, it's not going to be popular. Disruptions never are popular, but all things considered, with the available options, I think it was the right thing to do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the resignation of former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, candidates have begun stepping forward to take his place.  In the running is Shinjirō Koizumi, son of a former Prime Minister and the current agricultural minister and Takaichi Senai, who aims to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister.  Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this election could ‘break the mould’ of exclusively elderly men running for the position of Prime Minister.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second All Blacks Springboks game tomorrow night's happening in Wellington.  The All Blacks have made 6 changes to the starting side after their 24-17 win last weekend and South Africa have made 7 changes.  Former Springbok and Supersport Journalist Hanyani Shimange told Heather duPlessis-Allan that the team is confident heading in to Wellington.   ‘You guys got us at Eden Park, the record stands, but we're confident for tomorrow.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle: Rugby commentator Jeff McTainsh and sports journalist Nikki Styris join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.  Can the All Blacks beat the Sprinboks a second time round? Will the Warriors survive against the Panthers? and what's happening next in the Netball coach shuffle?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington company wants to prospect for gold near a nature reserve. A local family has applied for permits to explore for gold and other minerals directly next door to Zealandia eco-sanctuary.  Quicksand Limited Director Travis Mackay says they've got a permit for panning at the moment.  He says they're exploring non-destructive, non-toxic methods.  Mackay says they don't want people coming to the area thinking they can do heavier riskier operations.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner says teachers are putting themselves ahead of students as they again vote to strike.  Brian Roche says the pay offer to teachers -which includes a 4.7 percent pay rise over 12 months - was a very good one.  PPTA president Chris Abercrombie told Heather du-Plessis Allan that teachers have many sticking points with the latest offer.  But he won't say exactly how many teachers supported the strike.  He says that's the union's policy - but there was overwhelming support from members to take industrial action.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say protest organisers made the right call, by postponing tomorrow's Auckland Harbour Bridge protest due to weather.  Southbound lanes were to close to accommodate the tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protestors.. The march will now take place from Aotea Square to Victoria Park, while a new bridge crossing date is decided.  Acting Waitemata District Commander Stefan Sagar told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he acknowledges the organisers for heeding their advice.  Saga says with winds potentially reaching over 70-kilometres an hour, it's not a feasible environment for pedestrians. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pacific Islands Forum wraps up in Honiara - and the standoff with the Cook Islands remains unresolved. Barry Soper told Heather duPlessis-Allan that the block between Mark Brown and Christopher Luxon is still present, despite the two leaders acting 'cordially' to one another. 'interestingly, we saw Chris Luxon with Mark Brown, and they seem to be getting on quite well, but the standoff remains.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The killing of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk is causing deep divide.  He was shot while speaking at an event at a Utah University and later died in hospital.  US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says several people have lost their jobs for making comments after the assassination.  He says it's caused other disruption as well, with a fight breaking out in Iowa after someone shouted profanities about Kirk.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustration over claims police overruled the Transport Agency by allowing tomorrow's pro-Palestine march to take place on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.  Tens of thousands of protestors are expected to cross the bridge in the morning, disrupting travel. Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the agency told him they said no to the protest, but Police intervened. He says Police told them the bridge had to close, to maintain civil obedience. Williamson says protestors should have chosen to march elsewhere.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Labour MPs are breaking ranks to call for Lord Peter Mandelson to be sacked over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from within his own party to sack the British Ambassador to the United States over his friendship with the late financier and convicted paedophile. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacked the backlash further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last few years, more international retail giants have moved to establish themselves in New Zealand. Costco opened its first store in West Auckland a couple of years ago, and Ikea is set to open up its first New Zealand-based store in Auckland in December. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie reveals why these changes are taking place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some foresters are starting to regret rushing into carbon credit farming, according to new reports from the Forestry Owners Association. Chief executive Dr. Elizabeth Heeg says more foresters are facing backlash and concerns have been raised. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ chief executive Nick Leggett and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Right-wing activist and speaker Charlie Kirk was fatally shot and killed in Utah earlier today. Are we worried about what this means for the future of political discourse?  Stuart Nash has resigned following his infamous comments about what makes a woman - did he have choice in the matter? And what could this mean for his chances in NZ First?  Should non-elected council members be allowed to vote? ACT is looking to change that - do we agree with this? Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down as Silver Ferns coach - do we think this is fair or another case of Gen Z being too fragile? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT Party is looking to roll out some new policies as the local elections draw closer. One key proposal involves scrapping voting rights for unelected council members - impacting mana whenua appointees and youth councillor positions. New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom has been quick to weigh in on these changes, and suggests the Government has bigger things to worry about. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has rewarded form in naming his squad of 23 for Saturday's Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Wellington. He's made six changes to the line-up, including omitting Reiko Ioane and Emoni Naarawa - and Finlay Christie and Fletcher Newell drop to the bench for Noah Hotham and Tyrel Lomax. Meanwhile, Samisoni Taukei’aho slips in at hooker for Codie Taylor, who failed a head injury assessment. Loose forward Wallace Sititi is going to remain on the squad, and he discussed his preparations ahead of the match.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 11 September 2025, US political figure Charlie Kirk has been shot dead and his killer is still on the run. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says the shooting comes at a critical time for America. Former Silver Fern centurion Laura Langman tells Heather why she's furious that Netball NZ has stood down coach Dame Noeline Taurua. Are whingy Gen Z players to blame? Education Minister Erica Stanford speaks to Heather about the list of new subjects that Year 11-Year 13 will be able to choose. Ghostbusters! Vicki Pratt is the owner of Whangamōmona Hotel and has invited paranormal researchers to search for the ghosts at her hotel. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Stuart Nash had it coming for him when he used very crass language to describe what a woman is.   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.

Well, I wonder how those netball players who complained about Dame Noeline feel today, because what they've done has probably, let's be honest, ended her career. And also brought out a swell of support that I can't imagine they foresaw. Silver Ferns legend Laura Langman's gone on social media and called this 'the saddest day in New Zealand netball history'. Gordon Tietjens, the Sevens rugby legend, called us at Newstalk ZB to convey his support for Dame Noels, and former coach Yvonne Willering says Noels is not old school at all and she does listen to her players.  Now, the details of what has happened to get to this point are fairly sketchy. Everybody's trying to keep things quiet, but what we know is that two players complained on behalf of a group of players and that sparked a review - and that review has led to her being stood down. And what these players have complained about is her communication style, and that they were 'psychologically unsafe'. Now, you can probably figure out what's going on here, can't you? We've got a generational problem, don't we? This looks to me like a generation of young players who don't like tough feedback and hard words. For whatever reason that is, I don't know - maybe because they are the generation raised through gentle parenting techniques where mum and dad didn't want to have to say no to them, so didn't say no to them, didn't want to tell them they're being bad kids and being naughty. And maybe they're the generation that came through the education system, the current one, where everyone gets a pass and no one experiences failure. They are the ones who've gone and complained because they're 'psychologically unsafe'. To which I think most of us who've experienced a little bit of life and didn't go through this nonsense with parenting and schooling would say - do you know what you need to do? You need to grow up, you need to get hard, life is tough. You're an elite athlete, if your welfare is getting in the way of your excellence, get out of the squad. Unfortunately for us, the person who is out of the squad is someone who understands excellence and has actually achieved a hell of a lot of excellence. And unfortunately, she will probably stay out of the squad, even though she's only been stood down at the moment. I mean, think about it - I can't see her coming back in. If they have to pick between one coach and several players, they're gonna choose the several players, aren't they? And frankly, I don't think that Dame Noels should want to come back - because if her excellence and her skills aren't appreciated by this generation of players, why bother? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior secondary school students will be able to learn about and use generative artificial intelligence in a range of subjects. The Government's unveiled a new list of subjects as part of a refresh of the national curriculum from 2028. It places greater emphasis on STEM subjects and adds civics, politics and philosophy, and media and journalism. Education Minister Erica Stanford says other countries have offered STEM-based classes to their students, but Kiwi learners aren't at the right level yet. "Now that we've got this whole reform programme going, we can actually look to the future and go - what does that look like?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of paranormal investigators are set to look for ghosts at the historic Whangamōmona Hotel. Paranormal Researchers NZ will send team members to spend two nights at the hotel to uncover the building's secrets, as three ghosts are rumoured to be haunting it. Whangamōmona Hotel owner Vicki Pratt is happy to let them investigate - and she's heard former residents share their paranormal experiences.  "I've always suspected something, but I'm not 100 percent sure." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Silver Fern Laura Langman has expressed shock and disappointment over the shock decision to stand down coach Dame Noeline Taurua. Netball New Zealand yesterday announced that Taurua was being stood down for the series against South Africa, starting in 10 days. Langman doesn't approve of this move - and says this isn't a direction we should want sport to be going. "Netball used to be a household-celebrated sport - and at the moment, we're just not doing ourselves any favours at all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is on edge after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed today.  The Donald Trump ally died after being shot in the neck at a campus event at Utah Valley University. The shooter remains on the run after reportedly fleeing from a rooftop. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says this incident is another watershed moment in the history of American gun violence. "We've seen politically motivated attacks in Washington DC, we've seen the shootings of Minnesota senators, Minnesota politicians earlier this year - and now we're seeing a conservative commentator assassinated in full view of the public." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Labour Cabinet Minister turned NZ First supporter, Stuart Nash, has quit his job after a comment about women. RNZ reports Nash has resigned from recruitment firm Robert Walters, after a remark about womens' bodies on the Platform.  The agency launched a formal review over the comments, which it said were made in a personal capacity, and were deeply inappropriate and didn't reflect the values or standards of the business.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Nash's comments are likely to negatively effect his chances within NZ First, given leader Winston Peters isn't a fan of bad language. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Commission is looking into introducing age restrictions for social media use. This follows Australia's example, where teenagers under 16 are set to be banned from social media - with these new rules set to take effect later in the year. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the EU will be observing the impact of Australia's ban to influence their own changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has issued some advice for for the team's younger cohort who are experiencing NRL finals footy for the first time. The sixth-placed Warriors welcome the Panthers at Mt Smart on Saturday. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poland says it's shot down Russian drones, which entered its airspace during attacks on Ukraine.  It marks the first time a NATO country has directly engaged Russian assets since the start of the war in 2022.  The NATO and Polish air forces responded - and four Polish airports were shut down.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copies of text messages just released by Treasury confirm Adrian Orr was likely to be sacked if he didn’t resign as Reserve Bank Governor. The process was so advanced, Secretary to the Treasury Iain Rennie warned Finance Minister Nicola Willis she might receive a recommendation from the Reserve Bank board to advise the Governor-General to remove Orr. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US economic data has been all over the news, with experts uncertain whether things will get better or worse. Conflicting data, a declining labour market and ongoing tariff uncertainty have contributed to a murky outlook regarding the US economy. Milford Asset Management's Brendan Larsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.