Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong has issued a warning to New Zealand over the prospect of joining AUKUS.

In a speech delivered to the China Business Summit in Auckland, Xiaolong said China's relationship with New Zealand had reached a critical juncture - and joining AUKUS could impact that.

NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says this stance is in line with earlier comments made by ambassador Xiaolong.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omn...

There's been questions raised about the purpose of tikanga - and the role it should play in the rule of law.

Senior King’s Counsel Gary Judd has filed a complaint to the Government’s Regulations Review Committee over incoming compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students.

Judd claims he filed this complaint because up until now, the curriculum for lawyers has been made up of what he described as "proper law subjects", such as...

Housing agency Kāinga Ora has been found to be in a questionable state, according to new report.

A high-level review of the agency has found the Department is under-performing and isn't financially viable without significant reform.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this review follows accounts of unpaid rent, abandoned state houses and abusive tenants. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 May 2024, an inquiry into Kainga Ora has found the social housing system is not socially or financially sustainable. Housing Minister Chris Bishop tells Heather there will be immediate changes.

Heather asks the Warehouse Group chair Joan Withers whether she sacked the CEO or if he quit by himself.

The Huddle debates whether celebrities make for good mayoral ca...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

A new review has revealed Kāinga Ora has been left in a poor state, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop placing the blame on the previous Government. How can this be addressed?

The investigation into Darleen Tana has so far cost $43,000 - in taxpayer money. The Greens don...

The Finance Minster says credit agencies are still looking favourably on New Zealand, despite high debt levels.

Treasury told the Government it was running a structural deficit the day it was sworn in; the Labour Government was never told.

It comes as Nicola Willis gears up to deliver her first Budget next Thursday.

Willis says it's important to show New Zealand won't be in perpetual deficit.

"We do need to show a path back to ...

A world-first online survey is being presented as a chance to analyse how society treats those with limited time.

Over 40,000 people die in New Zealand each year, with close to 90 percent often taking months or years.

Hospice's Dying Reviews let respondents reflect and share their experience of a terminal illness.

Hospice NZ CEO Wayne Naylor says they hope to shine a light on the experience of dying in New Zealand. 

"What we wa...

There's hopes a new boss will bring fresh energy to the struggling Warehouse Group.

Independent non-executive director John Journee has been appointed interim chief executive following Nick Grayston's abrupt resignation last week.

The board is now looking for a new chief executive to replace Grayston, who was in the role since 2016.

Board chair Joan Withers says elevating a member of the leadership team to the role wasn't consid...

A Kiwi stuck in riot-stricken New Caledonia says they're dealing with a wait-and-see situation.

The Defence Force is standing by for French authorities to green light flights to collect Kiwis.

231 are registered in the country.

Alex Smeele says he's seen burnt out cars, a digger ripping up the road and flaming tyres on the verge.

"I'm curious to understand the overall timeline on that - knowing how many planes will be coming."

The Housing Minister has responded to the 'mismanagement' impacting Kāinga Ora - and enacted some changes.

A high-level review of the agency has revealed it's under-performing and isn't financially viable without significant savings.

The Government has today appointed a new Chair, former Spark CEO Simon Moutter, and a refreshed board will be in place by July.

Minister Chris Bishop says the Government's been bequeathed a difficul...

I think we’re about to find out whether this Government has got the cahones to make the tough calls that need to be made on one thing in particular: Asset sales.

If you've been reading political commentary lately, including in the weekend papers, there's been a lot of talk of the need for asset sales. Why?

Because as we said earlier, we have a structural deficit. Which is a very bad thing because it means we are, thanks t...

Over in Australia, NSW authorities have arrested at least 500 people for domestic and family violence offences.

A four-day operation was carried out from Wednesday to Saturday - where 554 people were arrested and 1,070 charges were laid.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson wonders why it's taken so long to carry out these arrests, given several had outstanding warrants. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

The Mental Health Foundation is appealing to the Education Minister to leave relationship and sexual education standards alone.

Minister Erica Stanford says the Government plans to look into reviewing and replacing the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) guidelines, which were last updated in 2020.

It's prompted an open letter signed by 175 schools, organisations and community groups - sent to Erica Stanford.

Foundation ...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 17 May 2024, flights in and out of New Caledonia have been delayed until at least Tuesday as riots continue. Air NZ's Captain Hugh Pearce tells Heather how tricky the security situation is for crew and passengers. 

Green MP Julie-Anne Genter has been doing the mea culpa media round, so will all be forgiven and forgotten? 

Three A-league players have ...

A man has been charged with attempted murder, over an apparent attempt to assassinate Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. 

Fico remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being shot several times during a walkabout. 

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Heather du Plessis Allan there’s been reports that the suspect is a 71-year-old, but other than that...

Vladimir Putin has arrived at Harbin, China’s ‘Little Russia’. 

He is visiting a China-Russia trade fair today to highlight the strong economic ties between the superpowers. 

Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather du Plessis Allan “Putin wants ongoing support from China, and access to China...

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week. 

We’re two weeks away from the Budget, the deadline by which government agency chief executives were asked to find 6.5 percent in savings. 

But Chris Luxon says it doesn't end with the Budget -- he wants it to be the start of a permanent culture shift within ministries. 

<...

Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen has been accused of lying about phone call at Trump hush-money trial. 

Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for allegedly paying off film star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had sex with him.

US Correspondent Dan...