Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The report from the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response has been released. It claimed the vaccine requirements were 'applied too broadly and remained in place for too long'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the findings in the report. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, concerns have been raised over the drones that were spotted over RAF bases in four English counties. The drones ranged in 'sizes and configurations' according to new reports. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unclear who is behind these incidents - but experts suspect Russia is involved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The year is drawing to a close and Christmas is on the horizon - meaning Black Friday is nearly upon us. The shopping event began as a one-day sale for American consumers the day after Thanksgiving, but it has since expanded around the world. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie examined the history of the sale - and revealed what consumers can expect this year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent burst of sunny weather has brought good results for New Zealand's primary sector. Flowering has surged two weeks ahead for sauvignon blanc producers in Marlborough - meaning they'll harvest earlier than expected. The Country host Rowena Duncum explains some of the other positive impacts that come with this recent burst of good weather. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank moved to cut the OCR by 50 basis points in its final decision for 2024. New Zealand's biggest banks have adjusted their floating rates accordingly - but no significant cuts have been reported yet.  NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Covid-19 response inquiry is out - and it's very critical of the vaccine mandates and aspects of the lockdowns. Do Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins need to apologise to the country?  Another plant based food manufacturer, Sustainable Foods, has gone into liquidation. Does this mean we just don't like fake meat? Will it ever be cool? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 28 November 2024, the first part of the Royal Commission into the Covid response has criticised vaccine mandates and the length of the lockdowns. Heather asks Chris Hipkins, former Health Minister, whether he thinks he should apologise for decisions made. Watercare's Mark Bourne with an update on the arsenic levels in the Waikato River, and why it took so long to tell the public about elevated levels. Plus the Huddle debates why we just don't seem to like fake meat, after plant-based food producer Sustainable Foods goes into liquidation. 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.

More details have emerged in the wake of SolarZero’s shock liquidation, which affected 160 employees. The company revealed on Tuesday that the business was unable to continue trading, citing 'unsustainable operating losses and liquidity constraints'. Former employees have since spoken out against the company -  and one of them, Mike, has unveiled some concerns ahead of a planned protest tomorrow. "The main thing we want to try and get across is - we were made redundant 4pm on Tuesday, no redundancy, no notice period, no holiday pay, we have a significant number of our staff that live week by week." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 'captain's call' may become a thing of the past - and former Minister Stuart Nash isn't a fan. New changes impacting party policy decisions are going to a vote at Labour's conference this weekend. It would mean the leader could only change the party manifesto with sign-off from MPs and Labour's policy council. Nash says a captain's call absolutely should not be banned. He explained the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition have more staff and a broader view than everyone else - and you've got to empower your leader. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Free Speech Union is considering legal action over a far-right US commentator being banned from the country.  Candace Owens promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories, has downplayed aspects of the Holocaust and has made offensive comments about Muslims.  Immigration New Zealand has denied her a work visa for a speaking tour - because she was banned from Australia.  Free Speech Union Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling says they think the Crown has acted unlawfully.  "Yes, we'll definitely take them to court - we're going to appeal to the Immigration Minister first though, and any associate Immigration Ministers. Chris Penk is the one who deals with appeal cases like that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Test results reveal drinking water in Waipā and Waikato District has slightly elevated arsenic levels - and Auckland's supply is back within safe levels. Auckland's Watercare and Hamilton City Council yesterday revealed levels were fractionally above the maximum amount in recent samples from Waikato River. Watercare's Chief Operations Manager Mark Bourne says they're tracking down the cause.  "We've been able to share our results with the other agencies further up the river - and that'll help identify where, when and what might be causing this." Watercare says tap water is still safe to drink. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Covid Response Minister says our vaccine mandates during the pandemic went too far.  Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has received the first phase of the report from the Royal Commission Inquiry, with its 39 recommendations. It found some vaccine requirements were too broadly applied and continued too long. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he hasn't drawn any conclusions on the length, as he hasn't read fully read through the report yet.  "Do I think the vaccine mandates went a bit too wide? Yes, I actually accept that finding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe was suspended from Parliament after she threw pieces of paper at Pauline Hanson after a row over racism erupted. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong moved the motion to oust Thorpe - with Government, coalition, Senator Hanson, David Pocock and Ralph Babet among those who voted in favour. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Thorpe was escorted out - and has refused to back down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England have brought themselves back into the game late on day one of the first cricket test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Soon after removing Kane Williamson for 93 - the visitors have taken the wicket of Tom Blundell for 17 - bringing debutant Nathan Smith to the crease. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A chef says meat replacements turned out to be a bit of a fad and they've declined in popularity. Plant-based food manufacturer Sustainable Foods has recently gone into liquidation. Pea protein meat alternative producer - Sunfed - also shut this year after losing investors. Restaurateur Martin Bosely says the products were popular to start with, but diners have now stepped away. "There was concerns about the tastes, there's definitely concerns about the texture - and I think it's sort of led to putting the plant back into plant-based." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is moving closer towards the vote on the new assisted dying bill - but some former leaders don't approve. Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Baroness May are among the former Prime Ministers who have joined the voices opposing the bill. UK correspondent Kay Oliver says the current Health Secretary and Justice Secretary also don't support the bill - and it's unclear if it will pass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OCR was slashed by 50 basis points today - but some markets believe it could have gone lower. Some experts believed a chunkier 75 point cut was on the way before the Reserve Bank took its summer break. Milford Asset Management Portfolio Manager Katlyn Parker unpacked the response further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plan to relocate the flood-prone West Coast town of Westport is being considered. Westport has been repeatedly inundated by flooding - with disasters escalating further in recent years. Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says this will be a gradual process, and other ideas to keep the town safe have been considered. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many mortgage holders will be relieved to hear that the OCR has been brought down by an addition 50 basis points. Despite this, one expert is warning that borrowers might need to keep their enthusiasm about the interest rates in check. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained that there were other factors impacting interest rates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Paper bags - Early Edition host Ryan Bridge has slammed the exorbitant cost of paper bags at the supermarket and criticised their effectiveness. What do we think? The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR down by 50 basis points in their last meeting of the year. This is good news - but what does it say about our economy?  Wellington City Council has voted on their Long Term Plan - should we be worried? Have you hit up the Black Friday sales yet? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 27 November, the OCR has dropped another 50 basis points to 4.25 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explained what might come next. Price comparison service PriceMe has issued a warning about deceptive Black Friday deals, with CEO Gavin Male explaining the techniques retailers use to drive up spending. Elevated levels of arsenic have been detected in the Waikato River, affecting water supplies in Auckland and Waikato. Steve Taylor from Water Services Authority explains the ongoing situation. Plus, The Huddle debates whether or not paper bags need to go, after Early Edition's Ryan Bridge slammed them on his show. 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.

Elevated levels of arsenic have been detected in the Waikato River, affecting water supplies in Auckland and Waikato. The Government has been briefed this evening and sought assurances that water supplies are safe. Authorities are carrying out further testing with results due back tomorrow. Watercare is also rejigging the way it processes water to reduce the amount of arsenic in the city’s water supply but said there was no immediate concern to public health. Steve Taylor, head of operations at Water Services Authority (WSA), told Newstalk ZB there had been increased levels of arsenic recorded in the Waikato River, affecting water supplies in Auckland and Hamilton. He said there was “naturally a level of arsenic” in the river, but it had been notified levels had increased recently. “I’m not sure what the reason for that increase is and that is affecting water supplies in Auckland and Hamilton,” he said. He explained the maximum acceptable value for arsenic is 0.01mg a litre – an “incredibly low amount” – but they had seen levels around 0.013mg, which is “marginally above the acceptable value for drinking water”. “The level of arsenic is above what we’ve described as a maximum acceptable value, but it’s not at a level that we would suggest has a significant health effect. “There’s no health risk in drinking that water,” Taylor said. “What we would expect is that those levels of arsenic would reduce over time.” Elevated readings of arsenic have been recorded in the Waikato River. Photo / Waikato District Council. Taylor said it is safe for people to keep drinking tap water. “The key thing about the maximum acceptable value for arsenic is it’s designed for long-term exposure, so it’s not an acute level. ”Unlike some other levels, you know, if you exceed that level, it has an immediate health effect – that’s not the case with these levels.” Taylor said the WSA was only notified of the elevated levels on Wednesday and it had been “a very short-term situation”. ”We’ve contacted the [Waikato] regional council to try and understand what is the reason for this change in source water,” he said. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has been briefed on the issue this evening. Photo / Mark Mitchell Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said he had been briefed on the issue by the WSA this evening. “I have asked the WSA to ensure that water suppliers in Auckland and Hamilton are taking appropriate steps, and that they communicate with their customers,” Brown said. “The WSA is the lead agency for this issue and will be providing regular updates.” Watercare reduces production at Waikato Water Treatment Plant The Herald repeatedly sought comment from Watercare this afternoon and it responded shortly before 8pm, saying it had reduced production at its Waikato Water Treatment Plant since detecting the elevated result. Watercare CEO Mark Bourne said the Waikato River supplies about 20% of Auckland’s drinking water. ”We treat the water at our Waikato Water Treatment Plant in Tūākau and distribute it throughout the metropolitan network. ”In most parts of Auckland, treated water from the Waikato River is blended with treated water from our dams. However, Pukekohe, Buckland, Clarks Beach/Waiau Pā, Patumahoe, Glenbrook Beach, and Drury south receive water solely sourced from the Waikato River.” Bourne said Watercare had increased production at its major Ardmore plant, which treats water from four dams in the Hūnua Ranges. “This extends the processing time at the plant, and we expect it to improve our ability to reduce the level of arsenic in the treated drinking water. “We’re working closely with other agencies and will continue to share information as we learn more.” The current minor exceedance of the standards does not present any immediate concern for public health, Watercare said. A Waikato District Council spokesperson said Watercare operates the local water networks in the area under contract. “Pōkeno and Tūākau are supplied by Watercare’s Waikato Water Treatment Plant. There are also treatment plants that serve the townships of Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Meremere, Taupiri and Ngāruawāhia.” The spokesperson said samples from these plants were being tested, with results due tomorrow. Hamilton City Council’s water supply remained safe for drinking, bathing, cleaning and cooking, following test results that showed small increases in the level of arsenic present. What is arsenic? The Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora website describes arsenic as a substance found in rock, which in some situations “harms your health”. It commonly enters the body in food and water and people can swallow small amounts every day for a long time without any obvious health effects. But swallowing larger amounts may cause long-term health effects, arsenic poisoning or death. Someone with arsenic poisoning may suffer from: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Extreme tiredness and bruising. An abnormal heartbeat. A “pins and needles” feeling in the

Kmart's New Zealand operation is approaching the $1 billion turnover mark, as it plans to open its largest store in the country yet.  BusinessDesk reports annual earnings lodged with the Companies Office show Kmart NZ Holdings declared just shy of $1 billion total revenue in the year to June 30.  Auckland University marketing professor says Kmart has managed to create quality products and boost its fashion output to avoid the stigma that comes with big-box retailers. "They've reduced the amount of stuff that they had and they're only focused on really good, quality products at that affordable price - so through doing that and getting their fashion and style up, they've managed to avoid the stigma." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's own Ryan Bridge has hit out at the cost of paper bags at the supermarket. Woolworths currently charges customers 40c per paper bag after plastic bags were banned from further circulation in July 2019. The retailer has defended these prices - claiming the cost is designed to encourage customers to bring their own bags. The Early Edition host says these bags are 'annoying' to use - and they don't properly carry your essentials. "Forget eggs, forget anything else... just put a two litre bottle of slippery, wet milk into this thing and it can't handle it. By the time you get to your car, it's all over your floor and you've actually got to carry it like a baby." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Price comparison service PriceMe has issued a warning about deceptive Black Friday deals. New research reveals 76 percent of the 100 most popular products last year were more expensive on Black Friday than other times of the year.  It says one in four Kiwis are sceptical of the sales, but many shoppers still expect to save 40 percent on fashion and tech. Chief executive Gavin Male says retailers use misleading sales tactics to make products appear cheaper. "Deals are always available, so it pays to compare and to check those prices of everything throughout the year, because there could always be one shop that's got an anniversary sale for their own brand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's fears of potential flow-on effects from more cost-cutting at Health New Zealand. The Public Service Association says the health agency is cutting a net 1478 roles, with about 700 already vacant. Health NZ says it's spending more than it has in its budget - and these savings will strengthen its front-line. PSA health sector lead, Ashok Shankar, says these cuts will impact Health New Zealand's digital team. He explained not having these workers could lead to more outages and less data and information. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's questions over what will come next for the OCR after today's 50 basis point cut. The Reserve Bank has hinted more cuts will come in the new year. However, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen has warned this might not be the right approach. "A lot of economic forecasters are wondering - when do we get back to those more normal and considered steps, given that the economy is already starting to show some early signs of turning around?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners can expect some relief - as the Reserve Bank cuts the OCR down in its final update of the year. The central bank has slashed the rate 50 basis points today - to sit on 4.25 percent. It's now forecasting 4.1 percent by March next year, 3.6 percent by the end of next year, with an endpoint of 3.1 percent by March 2027. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper says Governor Adrian Orr has warned this will depend on how things track - as the economy is in for a slow recovery. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has claimed Donald Trump's proposed tariffs would do nothing to stop the flow of migrants coming through the US border. Sheinbaum has also warned Mexico would hit back with tariffs of its own in response to Trump claiming he would introduce a 25 percent increase on all imports from the region. US correspondent says Canada and China haven't responded favourably to the president-elect's proposed tariff increases either. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby are weighing up the option of taking an All Blacks home test against France to the United States next year. The move comes a month after confirmation France would be sending an understrength squad on the tour to New Zealand. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Agency is telling bus and train providers to take in more money, which could force fare hikes. Wellington's Regional Council is rejecting the call from NZTA. Transport Committee Chair Thomas Nash says it would mean unaffordable 70 percent fare increases during a cost of living crisis.  "You'd end up just pushing people back into cars, more people will be on the road and it would be more congested - which I think is the opposite of what we need." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A petition calling for a second UK election is growing in support - and tech billionaire Elon Musk has voiced his support for it. Musk labelled the UK a 'tyrannical police state' and boosted a video by a jailed far-right figurehead. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is unlikely to resign based on this poll. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's return to the White House could lead to a more complex landscape for global food and agricultural trade, according to a new report by Rabobank. Rabobank says the implications of Trump's proposed policy shifts could be potential disruptions to established trade relationships, shifts in export demand, and rising costs for consumers and businesses alike. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to hit Mexico, Canada and China with new tariffs as soon as he takes office. In a post on social media, Trump promised to charge Mexico and Canada an additional 25 percent tariff on all products they send to the US - and an additional 10 percent tariff will be placed on Chinese goods. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says these trade changes come with ramifications for the rest of the world - New Zealand included. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to make its final decision for the Official Cash Rate for the year tomorrow afternoon.  The general consensus among experts is that the OCR will be cut by at least 50 basis points. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says the Reserve Bank needs to strike the right balance for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 26 November 2026, Sir John Key pays tribute to former National MP Nikki Kaye who passed away at just 44 years old. He tells Heather Nikki had been much sicker than people realised. Heather asks Education Minister Erica Stanford whether she's going to get rid of NCEA Level 1 after another damning report. And Heather reveals the new nickname she has for Erica - and Erica reveals the nickname her kids call her. Did you know it's unlawful to be served tea or coffee at the hairdressers? We meet the woman who wants to change that. Plus, Wellington City Councillor Tony Randle on signing off the city's Long Term Plan - without realising quite what he's signing off on. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Former National MP Nikki Kaye died aged 44 after a lengthy battle with cancer. People from all sides of the political spectrum came together to pay tribute to her - what made her so special? What will we remember about her?  Does NCEA need to go? An ERO review revealed NCEA level one needs an overhaul - or to be scrapped altogether. Do we need a new national qualification? Labour's going to decide what sort of tax scheme they'll progress this weekend - do we see a capital gains tax coming?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's frustration for some at Wellington City Council, as the city's Long Term Plan is laid out. Budget cuts were a big part of the discussions - as the city needs to bring in more money after the plan to sell the airport shares fell through.  The Council's proposed demolishing the Botanical Gardens' Begonia House and they plan to chop upgrades for venues and a development of Frank Kitts Park. Wellington City Councillor Tony Randle says the Golden Mile project was spared - for the time being. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One East Coast MP seeks to overturn the law banning people from indulging in a cuppa at the hair salon. It's currently an offence to serve a drink in a salon's service area as it's been deemed unsafe under health regulations. Dana Kirkpatrick has added a bill to the ballot to remove the law. Kirkpatrick says the same law says it's illegal to bring a dog to the hairdressers. "For some reason, they decided that you couldn't take your dog to the hairdresser - but these days, we take them to the pub, the café, we take them to the office."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning UK singer Kate Nash has revealed she plans on selling pictures on OnlyFans to help fund her tours. Nash explained that live music has become increasingly financially unsustainable - and she hopes monetising pictures of her behind will help bridge the gap. Concert promoter Brent Eccles says artists have to keep 'feeding the machine' in order to sustain a career and make money. "You have to be very careful when you're doing that - and watch the dollars. You have to tour to a level you can afford." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister says he's confident people aren't being booted from hospital waitlists so Health New Zealand can meets targets.  A letter obtained by RNZ reveals some referrals from a Palmerston North orthopaedic clinic are being knocked back, due to a lack of resources. Shane Reti says checks are in place to ensure targets aren't gamed. He says Health New Zealand is investigating the letter. "As the 20 DHBs came together, there were a lot of different protocols - bringing them all into one place is what they're looking to do, but certainly, that is not the policy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wouldn't be surprised if Education Minister Erica Stanford actually ends up scrapping NCEA level one. Because she's already concerned enough to order a review - and the review has come back slamming it, so she's got all the ammo she needs to pull the trigger if she wants to. And I hope she does, because it has become apparent, especially in the last three years, that NCEA is a massively flawed system. And I don't think this is just a level one problem, I think there's problems across all three levels. What's going on is that schools have had a gutsful and they're dropping it - fast. This year, only 87 percent of schools offered NCEA level one, next year only 75 percent will offer it.  You can see this massive drop- and the problem is that the ones predominantly dropping it are the ones in the highest socio-economic areas. That is a problem, because if it carries on like this, what we’re gonna end up with is rich kids and kids living in nice suburbs and going to to high decile schools coming out with decent qualifications like IB and Cambridge and everyone else coming out with junk NCEA. And all that’s gonna do is create an education gap where only wealthier kids get the premium education qualification, and we don’t want that. That's not what this country is about, it's always been about everyone having the same opportunities. If you’re a parent of an NCEA pupil, you don't need me to tell you this. The problem is that there’s no consistency. Your child can hand in an internal assessment to one teacher and give it an awesome grade - and another teacher can look at the same assessment, think it's mediocre and give it a mediocre grade. It says a lot that employers don’t rate NCEA level one, increasing numbers of schools don't rate NCEA level one, the Education Review Office doesn't rate NCEA level one - and judging by the noises coming from the Education Minister, she doesn't rate NCEA level one. I think it's time to scrap it - scrap the whole lot. From where I'm sitting, it looks like a failed experiment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister John Key has fondly remembered Nikki Kaye as a brave warrior. The former National deputy leader and Auckland Central MP has died aged 44 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 until 2020 - the only National MP to win the electorate. In her valedictory, Kaye recalled Prime Minister Key swearing and telling her she wasn't going anywhere, when she was diagnosed in 2016.  Key says Kaye fought valiantly - and he recalled reminding Kaye her great motivation was helping people and told her she'd beat it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politicians from all parties are coming together to pay tribute to Nikki Kaye. The former National deputy leader and Auckland Central MP has died, aged 44. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 until 2020 - taking leave from the House in 2016 for breast cancer treatment.  John Key, Helen Clarke, Jacinda Ardern and Chloe Swarbrick are among those who have shared tributes, and  Prime Minister Chris Luxon says she was held in great respects across the political divide.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper also says she was a hard worker - and will be remembered fondly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's new social media ban for under-16s is being met with backlash from various MPs and critics alike.  Opposition leader Peter Dutton has voiced disapproval with the idea and prospective voters have wondered how these restrictions will be implemented. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says people have also suggested the Government direct their attention to sugar taxes and regulating gambling instead. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new face will bat at three for England in the first cricket test against the Black Caps, starting Thursday in Christchurch. Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell will debut at the spot, with Ollie Pope keeping wicket and batting at six in the absence of the injured Jordan Cox. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister agrees NCEA level one doesn't work in its current form. The Education Review Office has called for a rethink of the qualification- after a review revealed it's not a fair or reliable measure of knowledge and skills. Minister Erica Stanford says she's going to take the findings of this review on board to re-evaluate the standards. "At the moment, it's trying to be a level up into level two and it's also trying to be a school leavers' - and in the end, it's neither of those things. So it's not working as it is." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Britain, Storm Bert is lashing the region - bringing snow, wind, flooding and heavy rain. Homes, schools and businesses were destroyed as a month's worth of rain hit England and Wales. UK correspondent Kay Oliver says the storm has been responsible for four deaths - including a 75-year-old dog walker. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand isn't going into the 2025 financial year with rosy expectations.  The airline expects its first-half pre-tax profit to be in a range of $120 million to $160m, down from $185m in the previous comparable half year. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacked the mood of investors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council’s 'highest-ever' investment in water infrastructure will see less than 1km of pipes replaced this year, Wellington Water claims. After a summer of leaks and taps running dry, the Council promised to increase spending on water infrastructure to address the damage. Wellington City Councillor Ben McNulty says it's up to Wellington Water to determine where that money goes. "The decision to do less than a kilometre sits very much operationally in their hands." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.