Larry Williams Drive

The Government, at the May Budget, announced the duration of the three-month fuel tax cut would be extended by two months.This means the petrol excise duty discount is due to be dropped in August.NZ Initiative chief economist Eric Crampton has reportedly uncovered that Labour gave NZTA officials less than 24 hours to come up with the policy. Eric Crampton joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has launched a plasterboard taskforce to investigate shortages.The taskforce members are Naylor Love chief executive Rick Herd, Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly, Simplicity Living's managing director Shane Brearley, businessman Sir Stephen Tindall, a member of Local Government NZ, and telcom founder Tex Edwards.It's been organised by Building and Construction Minister Megan Woods, who has also written to Fletcher Building over trademarks.BusinessDesk managing editor Patrick Smellie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain is facing its biggest rail strikes in decades after last-minute talks between a union and train companies failed to reach a settlement over pay and job security.Up to 40,000 cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff are due to walk out for three days this week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The strike is expected to shut down most of the rail network across the country, with London Underground subway services also hit by a walkout on Tuesday.The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union branded employers’ latest offer “unacceptable” and said “the strike action scheduled this week will go ahead.”Secretary-General Mick Lynch said rail companies had “proposed pay rates that are massively under the relevant rates of inflation, coming on top of the pay freezes of the past few years.”Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the strike would cause “mass disruption,” with only about 20% of services able to operate.Shapps placed blame for the strike squarely on unions, which he said were resisting

Auckland Council has decided it won't renew its BusinessNZ membership.It costs $20,000 a year to be a member by the Council doesn't think it's worth it.They've come to the conclusion that the membership is not providing value for money and aren't getting much out of it.Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A groundswell is starting to rumble in rural New Zealand.Dairy NZ and Beef+Lamb are calling on the Government to give farmers a fairer deal with setting methane targets.They have been saying that farming is being blamed for a far bigger share of New Zealand's warming than it actually causes.The Country host Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we still firing nurses over the Covid jab?We have a shortage of 4000 nurses.We have a report that a woman died in Middlemore emergency department of a brain bleed last Wednesday morning because there was an 8 hour wait to see a doctor.We have surgeries being delayed another month in Wellington hospital because there aren’t enough nurses to cope.Palmerston North Hospital is so short staffed it’s being described as unsafe.Christchurch Hospital’s general team has never cared for so many people at once before.                    We are paying south Auckland GPs $1400 an hour to take pressure of Middlemore.And we’re still standing these nurses down form their work.And by the way, we’re not talking about anti-vaxxers. We’re talking about nurses who’ve had two jabs but simply don’t want to get a third. So what? About a million Kiwis did exactly the same thing: got two jabs, skipped the third.As I say, we have a shortage of 4000 nurses and we’ve stood down another 518 for the booster.If you go into hospital t

The Government has announced a GIB taskforce to investigate the shortage.It’s going to give advice to those struggling to get alternative plasterboard products and troubleshoot any issues.The taskforce members are Naylor Love chief executive Rick Herd, Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly, Simplicity Living's managing director Shane Brearley, businessman Sir Stephen Tindall, a member of Local Government NZ, and telcom founder Tex Edwards.Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A potential watershed moment in the transgender athlete debate.Transgender athletes have now been banned from rugby league at an international level effective this weekend, following swimming's ruling that transgender athletes will no longer compete in female competitions unless they have started transitioning before the age of 12.The Government has set up a taskforce to tackle the construction industry's GIB crisis.Building and Construction Minister Megan Woods has set up the taskforce to troubleshoot on the plasterboard issues that have left many builders unable to secure supplies, and has also written to Fletcher Building over trademarks.The Picton crash has re-ignited a debate over whether we're too reliant on trucking.It comes as seven people were killed after a truck collided head on with a van, which was completely destroyed on impact.Matthew Tukaki and Nick Leggett joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The HuddleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have we had a landmark moment in the transgender sports debate with the first full-contact sport drawing a line in the sand?Yesterday it was swimming, and today it's international rugby league.They've placed a ban on all transgender athletes until further research is completed effective from this weekend.Save Women's Sport Australasia NZ Spokesperson Ro Edge joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league has banned transgender athletes from international competition according to reports.Athletics and football also look set to replicate the landmark transgender ban by FINA on swimmers who go through male puberty from competing in elite women's races.The Daily Telegraph reports the International Rugby League (IRL) has decided players who transition from male to female will not be allowed to play in sanctioned international events until further research is conducted, ruling them out of this year's World Cup in England."In the interests of avoiding unnecessary welfare, legal and reputational risk to International Rugby League competitions, and those competing therein, the IRL believes there is a requirement and responsibility to further consult and complete additional research before finalising its policy," the IRL said, per The Daily Telegraph."The IRL reaffirms its belief that rugby league is a game for all and that anyone and everyone can play our sport. It is the IRL's responsibility to balance t

The Employment Relations Authority is calling out rogue employment advocates.It says some are giving poor advice, frequently leaving people with thousands of dollars in costs.Employment Law Institute President Kelly Coley told Heather du Plessis-Allan advocates who don't work in clients' best interests can take up valuable Authority time.“The system has only just recently been cleared of a big backlog due to Covid, so you're having meritless claims before the Authority, it's not helpful.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister says the system is under pressure.Hospitals are struggling, with Counties Manukau DHB paying local GPs to see patients to take pressure off Middlemore Hospital emergency departments over the weekend. And a 50 year-old woman died with a brain bleed last week after allegedly being told by Middlemore staff there would be an eight hour wait before being examined.Andrew Little told Heather du Plessis-Allan everything possible's being done to help.“That's why the hospital management in each of hospitals is taking a range of actions to alleviate that pressure, particularly on their EDs.”He says it was predicted to be under pressure with Covid-19 and flu strains that haven't been seen for three years.“What we not entirely predicted was the level of staff absenteeism and all of those things are putting pressure on the system at the moment.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A taskforce has been set up to help with the GIB shortage.Building and Construction Minister Megan Woods has set up the taskforce to troubleshoot on the plasterboard issues that have left many builders unable to secure supplies, and has also written to Fletcher Building over trademarks.The taskforce members are Naylor Love chief executive Rick Herd, Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly, Simplicity Living's managing director Shane Brearley, businessman Sir Stephen Tindall, a member of Local Government NZ, and telcom founder Tex Edwards.Chris Hipkins has stepped up into his new role as Police Minister.He accepted the portfolio amid public pressure on predecessor Poto Williams.Hipkins and new Justice Minister Kiri Allan will soon release details of a new criminal justice package soon.Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial for the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins has been delayed in the wake of an “extraordinary” Logies acceptance speech from Lisa Wilkinson.Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.He was due to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, June 27.Lawyers representing Mr Lehrmann launched a stay application to delay the trial following the publicity surrounding Ms Wilkinson's speech.“Your honour, this speech did not need to be made,” defence barrister Steve Whybrow said on Tuesday.In delivering her judgment, ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said it was “through gritted teeth” she ruled the trial date would need to be vacated.“Unfortunately, however, the recent publicity does in my view, change the landscape because of its immediacy, its intensity and its capacity to obliterate the important distinction between an allegation that remains untested at law,” she said.Justice McCallam said she wanted the trial to be heard this year but s

The new Police Minister hopes to produce a package of options to tackle gang problems in coming weeks.Chris Hipkins picked up the portfolio last week after Poto Williams.Gang tensions have been surging in Auckland, with a series of drive by shootings - alongside a plague of ram raids by very young offenders.Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan they want to move quickly.“We are looking at the moment around what the legislative settings are to make sure that the police have got all of the legal options that will usefully help them to crack down on the harder end of criminal offending, particularly around organised crime.”He says they'll start by looking at young people who aren't engaged in education, employment or training.“That number of young people has been growing in recent years. If we get them re-engaged, we know they’re less likely to find themselves on a pathway that leads them to further trouble.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you trust Mahe Drysdale for financial advice?The two-time Olympic champion retired from rowing last year and has taken up a new challenge.He's now an associate financial advisor at Hobson Wealth.Mahe Drysdale joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is gearing up for a Europe trip this weekend.Trade, tourism and foreign policy will all be on the agenda as Jacinda Ardern aims to meet with European leaders, including the UK's Boris Johnson.Ardern has also been invited to the Nato summit in Madrid, and has been invited to attend alongside leaders of Australia, South Korea and Japan.She will also head to Australia with a business delegation after Europe.NZME Business Commentator Fran O'Sullivan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance was projected to lose its majority despite getting the most seats in the final round of parliamentary elections Sunday, while the far-right National Rally appeared to have made big gains.The projections, which are based on partial results, say Macron’s candidates would win between 230 and 250 seats — much less than the 289 required to have a straight majority at the National Assembly, France’s most powerful house of parliament.The situation, which is highly unusual in France, is expected to make Macron’s political maneuvering difficult if the projections are borne out.A new coalition — made up of the hard left, the Socialists and the Greens — is expected to become the main opposition force with about 140 to 160 seats.The National Rally is projected to register a huge surge with potentially more than 80 seats, up from eight before. Polling was held nationwide to select the 577 members of the National Assembly.The strong performance of both the National Rally

Swimming’s world governing body has banned trans women from competing in female competitions.FINA has said they are only allowed to compete if they started transitioning before 12-years-old, and will instead create an open category for trans women.An Indian couple is getting deported over breaking Covid lockdown rules.The man had smuggled his partner out of Auckland, only to be caught when asking around for employment for her.Although the judge discharged them without conviction, recognising the financial and mental stress imposed on the couple, Immigration NZ has decided to deport them.Middlemore Hospital in Auckland is paying GPs to help out in their emergency department.Local GPs are being funded up to $1400 an hour to take on patients for free over the weekend, but Royal College of GPs Medical Director Bryan Betty says it’s not sustainable long-term.Tauranga locals have cast their vote in the weekend’s by-election.National’s Sam Uffindel beat Labour’s Jan Tinetti convincingly by 6000 votes to maintain the

The Crusaders were absolutely dominant in the weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific Final.Their 21-7 victory over the Blues at Eden Park was highlighted by the first half, which saw the Crusaders 11-0 up at half-time.Rugby Australia may be leaving Super Rugby.It was reported on Thursday that Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told NZR counterpart Stewart Mitchell they were considering ditching the trans-Tasman competition in favour of a domestic competition ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Australia.Sports commentator Phil Gifford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.