Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Overall employment's held steady - but the hours people work have notably contracted.

In figures out today, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent in the three months ending March. 

But total hours worked are down three percent over the year. 

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr says numbers of part time workers are rising, with those working full-time falling. 

"Businesses are clearly cutting hours...

There's fears of escalation between India and Pakistan among experts.

Pakistan claims Indian missile attacks have killed eight people - and India's claiming three died when Pakistan shot down five of its planes.

Auckland University Global Studies Professor Chris Ogden says both countries have nuclear weapons. 

He says that could actually be beneficial. 

"It might actually enhance the possibility for a limited war - this h...

The final stage of a bill to increase the threshold of pay equity claims is expected to pass in Parliament.

It'll extinguish 33 active claims, requiring them to re-start under the new model - with the changes expected to impact hundreds of thousands of workers.

This bill has been met with outrage from unions and the Opposition - describing it as a 'dark day for women'. 

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighed in on th...

Confusion reigns between Netball New Zealand, the Silver Ferns captain and the country's star player on eligibility criteria for the national team.

The issue has resurfaced with shooter Grace Nweke currently ineligible for the Ferns because she's playing for New South Wales in Australia's Super Netball competition.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the ongoing discussions.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Prime Minister Starmer has announced plans are in place to crack down on international students applying for asylum in the UK in a bid to address migration figures.

An immigration white paper setting out the proposed reforms in mid-May will include measures to reduce the number of UK students making asylum claims after their visas expire.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says Nigel Farage's Reform Party is gaining popularity - and the G...

The Government will make major savings over the coming years by outperforming on its housings goals. 

Last year, it aimed to reduce the number of people in emergency housing by 75 percent in 2030 compared to December 2023. 

However the target was achieved before the end of last year. 

Infometrics Principal Economist explains what this could mean for the upcoming Budget.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

 The Government is overhauling the pay equity system - restricting future claims and stopping all 33 current claims. The changes will be rushed through under urgency this week. Do we think this is the right move?

National has outlined plans to ban social media...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 6 May 2025, a dicey call from the Government... today scrapping all current pay equity claims and overhauling the system. Workplace Relations Brooke van Velden tells Heather the move will save billions.

The former boss of Facebook New Zealand Stephen Scheeler reacts to National's plan to ban social media for under 16s.

Victoria University law students will have to...

That decision today to stop all those pay equity claims is ballsy - I mean, you know, ballsy is good - and I think I lean towards thinking this is the right thing to do.

Those pay equity claims have been a bit random. I don't know if you know how this works, but basically, if people can prove that they're underpaid because they work in women-dominated jobs, then they can get a pay rise.

And how they prove this is by finding men who...

NZME’s likely new chairman Steven Joyce says he hopes to unify the media company’s shareholders as much as possible, following two months of heated debate over the company’s performance and editorial endeavour.

Joyce, a National Party Cabinet minister for three terms from 2008 and an experienced commercial media businessman, was today confirmed as a board nominee for NZME.

Spinoff founder Duncan Greive says this is a smart manoeuvr...

The Government is planning a massive overhaul of New Zealand’s pay equity regime - and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation doesn't approve.

The reforms will overhaul a 2020 law establishing a regime to allow people in sectors with a large female workforce to argue that they were underpaid relative to similar work done in male-dominated sectors.

NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says these proposed changes are 'disappointing'.

"We'v...

Education Minister Erica Stanford is not alone in forwarding Parliament and ministerial emails to her personal account - with Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop revealing they're guilty of similar acts.

The Cabinet Manual says ministers should avoid using personal mobile and email accounts wherever possible.

 CISO Lens Country Manager Nadia Yousef says Webmail services like Gmail can be safe if you use a strong password multi-fact...

A Middle East expert says there's little hope displaced Palestinians can go back to Gaza in future under Israel's latest plan. 

Its Security Cabinet is planning to expand military action, move Gazans south - and pressure Hamas to release hostages.

Otago University's Dr Leon Goldsmith says Israel says it's waiting for the US President's okay.

But he says this is already an 'apocalyptic catastrophe'. 

"But I think if they p...

Victoria University's upcoming law exams will be laptop-free - in a defence against using AI to cheat.

Law dean professor Geoff McClay told pupils yesterday they'll be hand-writing their three-hour exams in June.

One student has told The Post their grade will suffer, because they're out of practise at writing and can type faster.

AI education expert Danny Bedingfield agrees written tests are the best way to stop cheating.

"You woul...

The Government is urgently pushing through new legislation - lifting the threshold for pay-equity claims based on gender discrimination. 

The Bill has already passed its first reading supported by all coalition parties and Parliament's moved swiftly onto the second. 

These changes have prompted plenty of backlash, but Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden says there was an appetite for these changes.

"It became clear to me...

Te Pāti Māori has been granted a stay of execution from the Privileges Committee - at least until tomorrow.

Te Pāti Māori was referred to the Privileges Committee following a haka performed during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November of last year.

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Committee Chair Judith Collins confirmed the decision on Te Pāti Māori's fate has been delayed until 8:30pm on Wednesd...

Australia's Liberal Party is weighing up their options after Peter Dutton's recent defeat in the election.

Peter Dutton lost his Queensland seat following Anthony Albanese's landslide victory - and the opposition is looking to bring in a replacement.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Dutton is among over a dozen Liberals set to lose their seats after the election - and the party's been reducing to a 'smoking ruin'.

LISTEN A...