Larry Williams Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, Kaine Thompson and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we really need to keep funding the Christchurch Call? It's been revealed the Christchurch Call Secretariat pressured an independent advisory network not to publish critical reports into members of the Call. Should we scrap it? Despite the tough economic climate, it's been confirmed MPs are getting a pay rise. Do they deserve this? New reports have revealed Jetstar is now more reliable than Air New Zealand. Is this surprising? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB can reveal allegations the Christchurch Call has silenced members of its Advisory Network - and pressured them to not release critical reports of member countries. Because of that, a group called the Internet Governance Project, has quit. Project founder and Network reviewer, Milton Mueller says India wasn't honouring its commitments. "They really didn't seem to have much of an official commitment to go along with the Christchurch Call at all, so we simply wrote that up." Meanwhile, the Government says it will soon reveal whether it will keep paying Dame Jacinda Ardern to work on the Christchurch Call. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby could be headed to the Middle East for the new Nations Championship, according to new reports. Qatar has reportedly made a bid to host the three-day finals event - a bid that promises commercial returns of $1.68 billion (NZD). Former All Black Sir John Kirwan is hopeful the power of sport can create a platform to address the outside issues in Qatar. "You'd be hoping that our leadership across rugby - World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby - are putting some pressure on. They want the rugby to come there, they have oil money, but we also need to use that platform to ask serious questions." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's reliability has fallen - and it's trailing Jetstar in figures for last month as it grapples with engine problems. Only 77 percent of its domestic flights arrived within 15 minutes of scheduled times last month, down from 88 percent in January. Jetstar reported no domestic cancellations last month and almost 79 percent of flights were on time. Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy says it's good opportunity for Jetstar to boost their reputation. "It's a great opportunity for them to show that they're lifting their game - and become more of competitive threat to Air New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Remuneration Authority says the Prime Minister's pay increase is fair. Chris Luxon's turned down the $50,000 salary boost over three years, and promises to donate it to charity. Chair Geoff Summers says a lot of work's gone into determining the figure - including job comparisons. He says our MP pay is relatively low internationally. "It's behind most other Westminster democracies - we had a good look at that, the tables are in the report. They're even behind most of the state MPs in Australia, except for Tasmania." Chris Luxon's salary would riss from $471,000 to $520,000 in 2026. Normal MPs' 163-thousand-dollar pay packets would rise to $181,000. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby has shouldered arms to reports Qatar has offered up more than a billion-and-a-half dollars to host the finals of rugby's new Nations Championship from 2026. A new report claims the gulf state wants the rights to 'finals weekend' of the tournament across four editions spanning eight years. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brace yourself, because it looks like we’re about to have another debate about whether sport should be taking money from Qatar. And this time, we’re probably going to care more about this as a nation, because this time - the sport is rugby. It's being reported that Qatar has made an offer to host the new upcoming Nations Championship, which is the tournament that basically combines the Six Nations up in Europe and the Rugby Championship down in the Southern Hemisphere - and then possibly adds in Fiji and Japan just to get to 12 nations. It’s supposed to happen every couple of years, played across the winter rugby window and then culminating in a finals weekend in November. This is what Qatar has offered to host, that finals weekend. They will bill it as a sort of 'Super Bowl of rugby' and they've promised commercial returns of $1.7 billion (NZD). Come on, the rugby bosses would be idiots to turn this down, wouldn't they? Unless they know that they can get better money elsewhere - and where are they going to g

Two out of three job applicants have admitted to 'rage-applying' to new roles out of frustration with their employers, according to new research. A survey carried out by recruitment specialist Robert Walters indicates over half of the 2000 respondents were motivated to leave a toxic work environment. Robert Walters commercial director Stuart Nash says this is proof workplace culture matters to employees - and leadership should pay attention. "Culture is so important - and good leaders create great culture. Culture is one of those things that's difficult to quantify, but we do know it makes a difference." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Treasury considered. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Deputy National leader Nicola Willis tells Heather why she's not fazed. Police Minister Mark Mitchell responds to a wave of violent daylight burglaries in shopping malls. Mobile phones are officially off limits in NZ schools from today, Principals Association president Vaughan Couillault reveals how many phones he's confiscated so far. The Huddle debates whether Victoria University should have cancelled a free speech debate, and if handing out jobs to former MPs is "jobs for the boys". Plus would Heather drink breast milk like the Kardashians? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full

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 Government role - she's the new chair for Pharmac. Is she the latest case of the Government handing out jobs to mates? Was the opposition just as guilty of this? Today marks the first day of the Government's cell phone ban in schools. It seems to have gone off without a hitch-  what do we think of this? Should we bring back the fees to resit a drivers licence test?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 conversation before - polls move up and down, and there is not an election tomorrow. So our job as a Government is to focus on getting on with business." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 spouting hate speech of any kind. It is simply the fact -and my opponents will admit this - that I have defended speech rights of those who they claim have expressed hate speech." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 they've got to basically be at a wits end before Kāinga Ora will step up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 that have been confiscated in the front office, so you'd have to say out of 1800 students, it looks like three of them got busted." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 conversation - and it ultimately requires agreement on these sorts of things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.