Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The senior doctors’ union says the Health Minister's proposal of arbitration, would've taken away their members right to decide. Simeon Brown wanted Health NZ and the union to let a third party decide the terms of the contract. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists rejected this and called his proposal a breach of employment law. Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Heather du Plessis Allan that there were a lot of unknowns around the proposal. She says the minister signalled they didn't see the pot of money as being any different and that's a situation they didn't want to enter into. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green MP Benjamin Doyle's resignation from Parliament was inevitable. That's according to former MP Peter Dunne - who says it's the right outcome for both Doyle and Parliament. Doyle - who faced questions over controversial social media posts earlier this year - says they've faced an onslaught of hate and violent threats.  Dunne says Doyle's made the right choice.  He says it removes a distraction from Parliament and removes Doyle from an environment in which they clearly didn't fit.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Better, faster, cheaper's the aim of the newly announced refresh to Auckland's transport governance.   The government's introducing legislation to strip Auckland Transport of many of its powers - handing responsibility for major roads to Auckland Council, and local roads to community boards.   Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan the council should be able to make decisions, as going through Auckland Transport is frustrating.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump hosted a tech get-together with some of the biggest names in modern technology.   The CEOs of ChatGPT, Google Facebook and Microsoft were all present at the high-profile dinner hosted by the President.  Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley told Heather duPlessis-Allan that Trump’s former right-hand-man and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk was invited but did not attend.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major study by Auckland University has found that playing high level rugby increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. Former male high-level players in New Zealand face a 22% increased risk when compared to men in the general population. NZ Rugby's General Manager Steve Lancaster told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, 'the research that's just been published actually makes it very clear that it doesn't establish causation' He believes that although there is correlation, there are too many external factors in play.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Batteries are the most confiscated items at airports.  Auckland airport alone reportedly confiscates nearly 500 batteries every single day, then donates the batteries to those who need them.  Civil Aviation Authority General Manager Warrick Burr told Heather duPlessis-Allan that passengers ‘have an opportunity to learn the rules’ before having items confiscated.  He said that batteries must be securely stored in hand luggage and not touching any other batteries.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nigel Farage came to Washington to meet with US officials - and managed to get some digs in about his homeland. The Reform leader declared that Britain had 'become North Korea' in regards to free speech. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Equity markets have taken a turn this September, and it's prompted concerns among experts. Markets are softening a bit, which is a remarkably regular occurrence in September.  Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds reveals what's going on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Victoria University academic has apologised after making public comments suggesting dairy industry leaders should be hanged.  Dr Mike Joy, a senior research fellow at the Wellington university and freshwater advocate, made a LinkedIn post suggesting the dairy industry was putting people at risk nitrate contamination of drinking and groundwater. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has confirmed it aims to ramp up its deportation figures and deport more criminal residents. Does this go far enough? Do we support these changes? Ikea is finally set to open in New Zealand this December. Are we going to go check it out? Māori Party MP Takuta Ferris is in hot water after making a racially charged social media post about a diverse group of Labour MPs who were campaigning for Peeni Henare. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.