Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Episodes

April 29, 2024 4 mins

One of the UK's biggest retail groups has confirmed it plans to give job applicants their interview questions beforehand in an attempt to make the process fairer.

John Lewis and Waitrose applicants across all skill levels will have access to these questions from the company's websites. 

UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the mass reactions to this idea.

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All eyes will be on Foreign Minister Winston Peters ahead of his hotly-anticipated foreign policy speech.

Peters is expected to deliver a notable, forward-looking address in Parliament this Wednesday to the Institute of International Affairs.

NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan suspects AUKUS will be a part of it.

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It's been a big day for the Education Minister, as she's released more education priorities - and promised extra incentive for teachers.

The Government's hotly-anticipated ban on cell phones also kicked in today, as students returned for Term Two. 

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Minister Erica Stanford still has plenty of obstacles ahead.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled and dubbed a 'liar' at a weekend rally held outside Parliament House.

Thousands of people attended the 'No More! National Rally Against Violence' march in protest of the multiple violent deaths of Australian women this year.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese was asked not speak - and the optics of this aren't good.

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Pharmac has received a funding boost - but the Government says it's to cover a 'fiscal cliff' left by Labour.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour revealed the drug-buying agency will be bolstered by more than $1.7 billion over four years, as part of the Budget.

Medicines New Zealand CEO Graeme Jarvis says he was aware of this gap in funding.

He says the Covid-19 pandemic created more fiscal cliffs to be dealt with than even ...

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April 29, 2024 99 mins

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 29 April 2024, Associate Health Minister David Seymour tells Heather why an extra $1.7 billion for Pharmac is merely keeping the lights on at our drug buying agency - but won't buy us more medicines.

It's bad news for the coalition in the latest political poll as Labour closes the gap with National and NZ First slips below the 5% threshold. Finance Minister and Dep...

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Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Victoria University has copped plenty of backlash over their decision to postpone a free speech event after pushback from the students. Should they have left the event alone?

Paula Bennett is the latest former National MP to get appointed into a Governme...

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The Finance Minister has brushed off a tough new poll result for the coalition.

The latest 1News Verian poll shows a two percent fall for National to have them on 36 percent.

Act is down one to 7 percent and New Zealand First is on 4 percent.

Those numbers mean the left block of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori could govern.

Minister Nicola Willis says she isn't losing her head over it.

"Oh well. We've had this conversatio...

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Wellington's Victoria University has hit pause on a controversial debate, after student backlash.

A panel discussion around the role of universities in free speech has been pushed back to the end of May, following the opposition from students.

The Free Speech Union's Jonathan Ayling, who was expected to attend, has expressed confusion at being included as part of the backlash.

"I challenge anyone to find references to me spoutin...

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Kāinga Ora has been fined $6,000 for being too slow to evict unruly tenants.

Stuff reports Kāinga Ora was forced to pay a woman terrorised by neighbours and fellow social housing tenants.

The antisocial tenants defecated outside her door, and it's alleged they threw a woman off a balcony.

Lawyer Adina Thorn says any other landlord would've kicked them out much sooner.

"It takes people a lot of time hassling Kāinga Ora - and the...

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Kiwi kids have endured their first day of no cell phones at school.

Students can no longer use or access their phone at school under new Government legislation.

Many schools started phasing the rule in from Term One, before the ban came into force this term.

Secondary Principals' Association president Vaughan Couillault says not many students were found breaking the rules at his school today.

"Well, I've got three cell phones t...

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David Seymour says the Prime Minister would have a tougher job sacking a minister from ACT than from National.

Luxon stood down Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds from portfolios last week.

Seymour says it would take a bigger process if Luxon wanted to give the boot to one of his party's ministers.

"What I did say is- if we were going to have that sort of action, then the coalition agreement requires good faith, it requires conversa...

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The Black Caps squad for the T20 cricket World Cup in the West Indies and United States has been named.

The 15-strong squad features just two players - Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra - who've never played at the tournament.

Sportstalk host Jason Pine unpacks today's reveal.

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The Police Minister says he's deeply concerned about the ages of robbers plundering Auckland jewellery stores.

In the past two weeks, at least five aggravated robberies have spanned Auckland - at Westgate, Newmarket, Onehunga and Manurewa.

Minister Mark Mitchell says in the most recent incident, the robbers were aged between nine and fourteen.

He says plans for youth military academies are a big part of their response.

"That's ...

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As you know, today is the official first day of the ban on cell phones in schools.

For most parents and teachers and kids it's actually not a particularly special milestone, given that most schools started bringing in these bans at the start of the year. But today is the first day that it's actually in force.

And you know what? 

The thing that I found most surprising about this is how overwhelmingly popular it is. One high schoo...

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New Zealanders are staying in paid work longer in an effort to transition into retirement, according to a new study. 

The average age Kiwi’s are choosing to retire has risen to 67 from 61, since the mandatory retirement age was eliminated in 2000. 

Co-director of the Retirement Policy and Research Centre Michael Littlewood tells Jack Tame that New Zealand’s state pension is generous, but not enough...

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Eden Park is reportedly set to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums. The Sports Huddle discuss whether the stadium remains fit for purpose. 

Plus, are the Crusaders underperforming or were expectations too high? Is it time to panic for Warriors fans? And, could NZ hold a second Supercars round? 

Newshub Sport Presenter Andrew Gourdie and Newstalk ZB Deputy Sport News Director Elliott Smith join Ja...

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Eden Park is reportedly about to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums. 

On Monday, a working committee will make a recommendation to Auckland Council on whether to invest in Eden Park or one of the rival waterfront stadium bids. 

NZ Herald Sports Columnist Trevor Mckewen tells Jack Tame as an existing location, Eden Park could be a cheaper option than others starting from scratch. 

LISTEN ...

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A unique re-homing program has been set up for actual lab rats across New Zealand.  

The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) are working with the scientific community to find former lab rats their forever homes, while pushing the Government to stop animal testing. 

Executive Director of NZAVS Tara Jackson tells Jack Tame NZ has nearly half a million animals who are bred for science, not us...

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Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has had his 2020 rape conviction overturned. The New York Court of Appeal found that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial, due to witness testimony including accusations that were not part of the case.  

Los Angeles KNX News Presenter Charles Feldman tells Jack Tame the next step will be for the New York District Attorney to decide whether to retry the case.  

...

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