Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

US President Donald Trump has agreed to extend a deadline to negotiate tariffs with the EU until July. Last week, Trump expressed frustration with the pace of talks and threatened to raise the tariff rate to as high as 50 percent as soon as June 1. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this will be a significant relief to parts of Europe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to make another Monetary Policy Statement on Wednesday, and experts have predicted another 25-basis-point cut. The cut, priced in by financial markets and widely expected by economists, would take the OCR to 3.25 percent. Despite this, Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr believes the Reserve Bank should cut the cash rate down to 3 percent - saying the economy needs stimulus. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 50 percent tariffs on the EU from June 1 due to slow progress on discussion. He also threatened to put a 25 percent tariff on Apple (-3%) and other device makers if they don’t start moving production to the US. Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly revealed how the markets responded. 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!  RNZ reports police staff have been directed to not investigate shoplifting below $500 and online fraud below $1000. There's also a new 'value threshold' to determine which retail crimes will be investigated - what kind of message does this send? Nicola Willis raised some eyebrows over her choice of outfit on Budget Day - does this really matter?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 26 May 2025, Superintendent Blair MacDonald explains why police are no longer going to attend shoplifting crimes where less than $500 was stolen unless there's good reason to. Health Minister Simeon Brown says prefab hospital buildings are the way to go to build a cheaper (and faster) hospital in Nelson. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals what's not written in her diary for Saturday - the day David Seymour takes over as Deputy Prime Minister. The Huddle debates why we're so obsessed with Nicola Willis' Budget outfit and whether it's appropriate we even talk about it. Plus, what happened when Heather asked ChatGPT if she looks hot? 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.

Nicola Willis says National still hasn't decided on its superannuation policy ahead of next year's election. The Finance Minister says keeping eligibility at 65 is increasingly expensive - and Prime Minister Luxon has expressed interest in making changes. Willis says discussions will need to take place about the matter as a caucus. "What that will look like will be different from the last election - because, obviously, 3 years have gone past since then. New Zealand, as we have pointed out in the past, is quite an outlier." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Marilyn Waring says a high-powered committee of 10 former MPs has the know-how to lead debate on the Government's revamped pay equity system.  Waring's established the 'people's select committee' to do the job she says Parliament failed to carry out by passing impactful pay equity law changes under urgency.  That includes receiving submissions, and interviewing oral presenters. She says it'll be in the interests of both the Government and the opposition to have the proper evidence going forward.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister's not buying Opposition's criticism of Nelson Hospital's brought-forward upgrade. A temporary site will be in place in about a year, and a 128-bed inpatient building will be delivered by 2029. Meanwhile, Labour is calling the move a downgrade - as while they were in Government, they announced an upgrade with more beds than under the coalition's announcement. Simeon Brown says this will substantially increase beds in a cost-effective way. "If we continued with Labour's approach which they wanted to do, it was going to cost up to $1.8 billion dollars." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say they can't get to all retail crime - after revelations revealed they won't investigate some lower-level crimes.  RNZ reports staff have been directed to not investigate shoplifting below $500 dollars and online fraud below $1000 dollars.  Police say they may not take a further look into crime below the threshold - and lacking evidence.  Superintendent Blair Macdonald says his team get 90,000 reports every month - and explained they try to judge where officers can prevent the most amount of harm to the public.      LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I totally understand that retailers want an urgent meeting with the Police Minister. This is over the revelation that police aren't bothering to investigate shoplifting below $500 bucks anymore. They're clearly worried, because what's happened is there's been a revelation from a memo that was sent to police staff a couple of months ago, saying that from now on, across all districts, cops will no longer investigate theft and fraud below a certain value. General theft - anything below $200, not investigating. Petrol drive-offs - anything below $150, not investigating. Shoplifting - anything below $500, not investigating.  Fraud - as in paywave fraud, online fraud, scams, anything below $1000 and then all other fraud - anything below $500, cops aren't turning up. And that is, by the way, regardless of whether you have lines of inquiry. So even if you know who nicked the stuff, even if you can tell them where the stuff is, they're not going to investigate. Now, it's totally understandable for retailers to want an urgent meeting on this, because this has probably come as something of a shock. But also, this is the reality, isn't it? There are not enough police to deal with all the crime in the country. We know that. It's not really even a total surprise when you think about how many stories you've heard about people who go to the police, tell the police exactly where the bike is, where the police can go and find it because it's been nicked, and the police won't go and get it. But, this is gonna be a problem, isn't it? When the thieves start finding out about this stuff - cause they may be criminals, but they're not always stupid - they know what they can get away with scot-free. And that is why so many of them just ended up brazenly pushing those loaded trolleys out of the supermarkets for a while there, cause they knew nothing was gonna happen to them. I suspect the same thing is gonna happen once they figure out what the thresholds are here. And if this is the reality that we now live in, then I think the only solution to this is for the Government to get out of the way of retailers helping themselves.  They need to let the supermarkets use that facial recognition technology they want to use, so they can stop people from coming in and committing the crime. They need to pass the citizen's arrests law to allow the retailers and the security guards themselves to stop the criminals getting away with this stuff. Because frankly, if the cops can't help - and clearly there aren't enough of them to help - then the retailers need the tools to be able to help themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infometrics' Principal Economist says the Government's not entirely ignoring the lack of budget funding allocated for lifting KiwiSaver employer contributions.  The Greens say the Government hasn't accounted for the cost to public services, which could cost more than $700 hundred million.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that's being worked on - and will be in next year's Budget.  Brad Olsen says the hole wasn't costed, but hasn't been forgotten.  "There is a cost - it will have to be met, but it's not being directly disclosed in the Budget figures." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party has accused the Government of having a three-quarter-billion dollar hole in the Budget. As part of the 2025 Budget, released last week, the Government announced that the default KiwiSaver contribution for employees and employers would lift to 4 percent. But the Greens say the Government had not accounted for that increase for its own employees in its books, and over the Budget forecast period it could add up to $714 million in costs. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Nicola Willis has since shrugged off the accusations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, machetes will be removed from shop shelves in the coming days after a violent gang brawl forced a busy shopping centre into lockdown.  Shoppers were left terrified after a conflict by rival gang members armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north took place over the weekend. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced the ban would take effect from noon on May 28 - and fines and jail time would be enforced against retailers who don't comply. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No grand-final for Auckland FC - and coach Steve Corica's making it known the officiating is the reason why. Melbourne Victory's 2-nil second-leg win in Auckland's clinched a 2-1 triumph on aggregate. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further - and explained why Auckland FC is likely to be feeling flat this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army says sanctions on beneficiaries which force people to find volunteer work for a few hours a week isn't the best use of resources. New 'non-financial' sanctions are set to come into force for beneficiaries who don't meet their obligations - including having part of their weekly benefit put on a payment card or finding volunteer work for at least 5 hours a week. But Salvation Army principal social policy analyst Paul Barber doesn't believe that's the right way to go for people who are struggling to find work. "There are already a lot of sanctions available... we're talking about a relatively small group of people within the total number of people who are receiving welfare." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 23 May. 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.

Let's talk about this business with the pension age. Chris Luxon has said today twice that he wants the pension age to go up to 67. He said it once on Kerre’s show this morning, and then at a post-budget lunch speaking to business leaders, he repeated it and he told them that this is basically going to be election policy for National next year. Now, regardless of how you may feel about this, I mean, you'd have to be coming around to the realisation, wouldn't you, that we are inching closer and closer to this thing actually happening. Especially after the changes that the government made to our KiwiSaver retirement funds yesterday. It's not long now. I think that the government will have completely wound down its government support of KiwiSaver, and then it's gonna come after the pension next, isn't it? This is where I think it gets tricky, because this is not just about money for people. This is emotional. Let me lay out the emotional argument for you as it plays out in my head, OK? It goes like this: Don't touch my pension. You can touch anything else. Do not touch my pension. I don't care if they take away every other piece of welfare that is available to me and other people. In fact, I would actually welcome it, because I think there is way too much welfare in this country for the middle class who don't actually need it. You get a best start payment for having a newborn. You're having a baby. They give you money. You get the winter energy payment. You get Working for Families, which I think is a crime. You get the subsidised childcare for sending your kid to kindy. You get free tertiary education for the 3rd year, God only knows why. Free government money for your KiwiSaver. Now, as far as I'm concerned, there's way too much of that stuff going on. They can take all of that away. If they don't want to take it away, they can means test it so that actually the most, and only the most needy in this country get it. But I will do everything I can to stop them touching my pension. Because I have earned that money. This is not a question about whether I need that money, it is that I have earned that money. I, like you, have contributed huge amounts of tax to this country, and actually I have not claimed very much back for myself. It's certainly not anywhere near how much I have put in. The only thing that stops me from being very sour about how much money they take out of my pay packet every year and the wasting of that money and the bludging by some on that money is the knowledge that when I hit 65 and want to retire, I will get a little bit back. Call it a goodwill gesture from the government, if you like, a government who I have helped prop up just like you have for donkeys' years, by the time that money comes into my bank account. So, good luck to Chris Luxon getting this one across the line. I think it's going to be one of the hardest fights to win because of the emotional argument that I have just laid out for you. I think they might find it easier to take away a lot of other welfare first. And unless they take away a lot of other welfare first, I am not budging on the pension.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer is "on the wrong side of humanity."  It's after Starmer called for an end to the war in Gaza.  Meanwhile 20 prisons in England will pilot the chemical castration of sex offenders, and Denmark's set to have the highest retirement age - 70-years-old. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first real indicator of the impact of the trade war is coming out of China. The country cut their key lending rates by 10 basis points on Tuesday in an effort to boost the economy. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) trimmed the 1-year loan prime rate, which influences corporate and most household loans in China, to 3.0% from 3.1%. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about what it means. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the week that was. What were the highs and lows of budget day? The debate about the punishment for three Te Pāti Māori MP’s begun ... but didn’t head anywhere quickly. And Winston Peters had an argy-bargy run in with a member of the public. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hit go on commercial building developments, oil and gas exploration, dam builders and more. In a new investment boost programme, businesses can now deduct twenty percent off the cost of a new asset. There’s no cap on how much the asset can cost. Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the new scheme. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Alderson and Sports Journalist Nick Bewly join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle. Supercars will officially race in a Kiwi double-header in New Zealand from 2026-2028. Can the country sustain two Supercars events? Super Rugby referees have admitted they got it wrong in the Blues-Moana game. How far back should the video referee be able to go? Are they too hogtied to the rules? The Sports Huddle discuss all this and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another huge weekend is in store for Go Media Stadium with two sold out games. Auckland FC’s second semifinal's on Saturday, before the Warriors take over on Sunday. The stadium’s just won the prize for the best stadium atmosphere by the football players association. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media influencer and mental health advocate Jazz Thornton says a social media ban would be dangerous for kids mental health. She says kids are able to access free mental health resources through social media. But is it worth the negative effect it comes with? Clinical Psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the implications of a social media ban for kids. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday’s budget confirmed there will be no changes to superannuation. Means testing for KiwiSaver input’s in, but nothing for super. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reaffirmed his party’s support for raising the retirement age to 67. But his deputy and coalition partner Winston Peters doesn’t agree. Associate Finance Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the idea. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked Harvard’s right to enrol foreign nationals – more than a quarter of the student body – in an escalation of his fight against the prestigious university. Current international pupils will have to transfer, leave the country or risk deportation. The US Government’s already pulled $2.6 billion-US-dollars from grants at the university. Crimson Education Co-founder Jamie Beaton talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the ongoing battle. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins wouldn’t confirm his party’s commitment of returning the $13 billion taken from pay equity schemes by the National Party. Half of the new spending in the budget came from these cuts. His colleague Barbara Edmonds, however, says Labour’s committed to finding the money. Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the confusion. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after an Israeli embassy couple were shot dead in Washington. The 30-year-old Chicago man was detained at the scene – the Capital Jewish Museum. He shouted “free Palestine” after being taken into custody. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The weekend’s biggest sports gamehave sold out. The Warriors will play on Sunday after Auckland FC on Saturday – both at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium. The Warriors will be looking to redeem themselves against the Raiders, who beat them in Las Vegas for the season opener. Sports Contributor Jason Pine talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the games. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supercars will officially race in a Kiwi double-header in New Zealand from 2026-2028. Ruapuna raceway in Christchurch will host a supercars championship each year, with it expected to continue after 2028. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the announcement. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert, police said on Wednesday. Liam O’Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is accused of showing support for the Lebanese militant group, who are proscribed by British authorities, during a performance on November 21. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An increase in default KiwiSaver contribution rates announced in Thursday's Budget could leave some households better off for retirement - but experts warn not everyone will benefit. The Government will halve the member tax credit available to people who contribute at least $1042 in a year to $260.72. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts believe Budget Day is a useful tool for outlining the latest forecasts for the economy. Treasury has responded positively so far - with GDP predicted to rise, unemployment predicted to drop and house prices predicted to go up again. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   The 2025 Budget was unveiled today - what did we think of it?  Do we agree cutting down Government KiwiSaver contributions was the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 22 May 2025, Heather is live from Parliament for Budget 2025 and gets first up reaction from Labour Leader Chris Hipkins. She asks Finance Minister Nicola Willis whether she's gone far enough to get spending under control and why she is making changes to Kiwisaver. Plus, the Huddle debates the details in the Budget and whether it will get the economy humming. Former NRL star George Burgess defends the "Run It" event he was a part of, after the event led to two people with head injuries. And the South African High Commissioner to NZ gives his reaction to the extraordinary Cyril Ramaphosa-Donald Trump meeting. 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.

High praise for South Africa's president after being confronted by Donald Trump at the White House. There was a tense exchange this morning between the US President and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump alleged white farmers are fleeing South Africa en masse, with thousands being massacred there. He demanded video be played that he claimed backed up his allegations. South Africa's High Commissioner to New Zealand, Johhny Sexwale, says Ramaphosa handled himself well. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's bid to bring hope back to New Zealand's gas sector has been met with approval from industry experts. In the Budget, the Government said it would set aside $200 million over four years for co‑investment in new gas fields. Former CEO and president of Methanex, Bruce Aitken, says this is a good idea. "Anything that encourages exploration for natural gas is great - it's a real pity that the Government has to do it, but I think there's an inevitability that you need to take some risk out of exploration." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 9000 young people will no longer be eligible for the unemployment benefit when the Government brings in stricter rules in 2027. Budget 2025 includes a change which places the responsibility for financially supporting 18- and 19-year-olds back on parents, rather than the state. Former Work and Income Boss Christine Rankin says she loves the Government plan to kick young people off the benefit.  "The benefit is the road to poverty - it's a terrible situation to allow them to be in when they should be starting their working lives or studying." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The infamous Runit Championship League made its debut in Auckland this week and one former NRL star is defending the event. The sport involves rival participants running straight at each other at full force - and many leading neuroscience experts have condemned it and outlined the risks. George Burgess says the competitors know what they're doing and they're not aiming to hurt each other. "Every sport that we have in our society is to remind us of our warrior past and to simulate warfare in a safe way - and that's exactly what we do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says refusing unemployment benefits to teenagers is about helping parents.  This Budget makes 18 and 19-year-olds ineligible for JobSeeker, if their parents can support them.  Nicola Willis says the Government has the same expectations as most parents.  "I have met parents who say - look, I've got a 19-year-old who spends all day on the couch playing PlayStation and it's pretty difficult because you, the Government, send them a check each fortnight." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 Budget has been unveiled and it's been met with divided responses across Parliament. Cost-cutting measures have pulled back $4.8 billion per year - a large portion from the recent rushed overhaul of pay equity claims.  Savings have also come from halving its KiwiSaver contribution, slashing family Best Start payments and restricting 18 and 19 year olds' access to welfare - moving the load to parents. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says ACT and NZ First have voiced support - but the Greens and Te Pati Māori aren't happy with it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.