Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

According to new data from the United Nations, fertility rates are on the decline and families are getting smaller.

The cost of living, job insecurity and housing costs are among the main factors preventing families from having as many kids as they would have wanted, new reports claim.

Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley says women are also getting more educated and have more of a role in the workforce - and that's another ...

I don't enjoy saying what I'm about to say because personally I quite like Neil Quigley, but I think that he needs to quit as the chair of the Reserve Bank - simply because I do not think that we can ever trust a single word that comes out of that man's mouth again as the chair.

He has been busted telling not just one, but quite a lot of fibs about Adrian Orr's resignation.

So for a start, on the day that Adrian Orr quit, you'll re...

There's skyrocketing water charges on the way for Wellingtonians in coming years. 

An average Wellington household's water bill tops $2500 a year.  

Indicative council figures suggest by 2033, that'll climb to $7,000 in a new billing system with water separate from other rates. 

Councillor Tim Brown says it covers stormwater, sewerage, and drinking water.

"It has approximately doubled in about the last five years - s...

The Trump administration is unlikely to scrap its defence pact with the UK and Australia.

The Pentagon says it's looking over the deal, to ensure it meets the President's 'America First' agenda.  

Australia expects to acquire nuclear-submarines, under the pact.

Australia's Lowy Institute executive director, Michael Fullilove says it's all speculative at this stage.

"It's not that unusual for new Governments to review deals tha...

Kainga Ora's staying tight-lipped on how much it'll cost to carpet state homes in Kiwi wool.

The Government's mandating using woollen fibres in new homes where appropriate from next month - to support the industry.

The same will apply to new state buildings like schools and public service offices. 

Kainga Ora chief executive Matt Crockett says he can't reveal the exact price because of of commercial sensitivities, but it's not...

The Finance Minister says the Reserve Bank should have given the reasons behind Governor Adrian Orr's abrupt departure - sooner.

It released documents yesterday showing Orr resigned over Government funding being well below the Budget allocation he sought.

Nicola Willis criticised the central bank's delay in outlining the reasons.

NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained further.

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The Pentagon is launching a fresh review of the AUKUS security pact with Australia and the UK.

A US defence official says the review aims to ensure the pact meets Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda.

Australia is relying on the agreement to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says there's growing calls among Australians for the nation to back out of AUKUS - but Australia needs the alliance.

LI...

The final of a controversial 'run it straight' event offering $200,000 to the winner has been shifted from Auckland to the Middle East amid calls for it to be banned.

Australian-based Runit Championship League held two trial events at Trusts Arena last month - but the West Auckland venue pulled out of hosting the final, citing safety concerns.

Now, the organisation has announced the final will be held in Dubai this month, with the ...

According to a new report by NZIER, Kiwi households are wasting thousands worth of food every year.

New Zealanders waste $1500 worth of food annually, and new data shows the country is among one of the highest producers of general waste in the OECD - and that it has some of the lowest material productivity in the world.

WasteMINZ CEO Nic Quilty says Kiwis don't treat waste as a resource - and it's a problem.

"When you buy something...

Ten people have been killed in a high school shooting in the Austrian city of Graz in the country's deadliest shooting attack since World War Two.

Dozens more have been injured.

A 21-year-old former student - thought to be the gunman - is also dead.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the area has been 'devastated' by this attack - and a three-day period of mourning has begun. 

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Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

Groundswell is calling on the Government to pull New Zealand out of the Paris Agreement. Do we see ourselves leaving - or will the agreement fall apart on its own?

Biotechnology company 23andMe is being taken to court by multiple US s...

Education Minister Erica Stanford has called in some help from international experts in a bid to get the nation's education stats on the up.

Former UK Minister of Schools, Sir Nick Gibb, led similar charges a decade ago - and the UK went from the bottom of OECD ranking to 4th in the world for reading and 11th for maths.

He's consulting with Erica Stanford - and he's revealed what New Zealand can learn from its international counter...

I think in the end, Groundswell is gonna be proven right - but I don't think they're gonna get what they want right now and I don't think they should get what they want right now.

Because what they want is for New Zealand to pull out of the Paris Agreement.

Now, we cannot pull out of the Paris Agreement. At least, we can't pull out right now, right?

We cannot be one of the first to pull out, because the first lot of countries that ...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the real story of why Adrian Orr quit his Reserve Bank Governor job is out... so what was all the secrecy about?

The Israeli ambassador speaks to Heather after the NZ Government imposed a travel ban on two Israeli Ministers.

A luxury real estate agent reckons we could attract hundreds of millions of dollars in investment from overseas if only we le...

An open letter has been written to the Prime Minister urging Luxon to ease the ban on foreign house buyers.

This letter comes after multiple NBR Rich Listers told NBR that making it easier for foreign investors to buy homes here would make New Zealand a better place to do business.

Luxury property real estate agent Anthony Morsinkhof provided the open letter - and he says he has clients looking to invest in New Zealand.

"I've got c...

An Israeli diplomat is criticising New Zealand's sanctioning two of his country's ministers. 

Our Foreign Minister's barred the two high-ranking politicians from travelling here, following the lead of Australia, the UK, Canada, and Norway.  

Winston Peters says they are extremists who've advocated for violating international law. 

Ambassador to New Zealand, Alon Roth-Snir, says he wishes international allies would in...