Larry Williams Drive

The Australian federal Government may have to change their current housing plan amid criticism from the Opposition and Greens. The Opposition has said that the Labour Government's current housing initiate will drive up inflation and add to pre-existing Government debt, as the money to fund the program will be borrowed. The Greens say the Government's plan won't do enough for renters, add to the shortage of affordable and social housing, and worsen the current crisis. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the backlash to the current housing plan shows that Labour will need to improve their negotiating abilities before the next election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Super Rugby Pacific season will introduce an in-game off-field review system to determine a yellow or red card threshold for all foul play incidents. Time limits at scrums, lineouts and kicks for goal aimed at reducing stoppages will also be adopted. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave says these rule changes will speed up the matches, as viewers won't have to watch endless replays to see if any foul play standards were breached.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyclone Gabrielle tore through the Coromandel Peninsula and effectively cut the region off from the country. 14 arterial roads in the district are flooded or blocked by slips, and a third of the region is out of power. Thames-Coromandel deputy mayor Terry Walker says Monday night was a destructive one for the Coromandel, with gale-force winds and 450 millilitres of rain landing in the region. Terry Walker says that the Thames-Coromandel area is resilient when it comes to extreme weather, but Cyclone Gabrielle has been especially tough on people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The central North Island is still being thrashed by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Hawke's Bay now bearing its brunt. The Defence Forces and emergency services have been helping with evacuations and rescues. That includes using helicopters and boats to help people in Napier from areas bordering the flooded Tutaekuri River. Evacuations have also been ordered in Waipukurau, with people asked to immediately move to higher ground or an evacuation centre. Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise says flooding and raging rivers have hit some infrastructure. Kirsten Wise says the drinking water is safe to consume - but the city is under the highest level water restriction. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian soldiers are dying in greater numbers this month than at any time since the Ukraine invasion began. Ukrainian data has confirmed that up to 824 soldiers have died per day in February, with the UK's Ministry of Defence saying these figures were "likely accurate."  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says that there may be a range of factors contributing to these deaths, including lack of trained personnel, poor co-ordination, and a lack of resources making it to the front lines.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uber drivers have begun negotiations for their first-ever collective agreement with the company. Following the Employment Court ruling that a group of Uber drivers were employees and not contractors for the ride sharing company, hundreds more drivers have unionised. The Uber drivers will use these negotiations to push for better pay and working conditions. However, BusinessDesk tech columnist Peter Griffin says workplace benefits will come at a cost to consumers, as riders might have to pay more in Uber fares. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made an appearance at the Apec Business Advisory Council meeting last Sunday evening. Hipkins acknowledged that Auckland was currently going through a hard time due to the impending Cyclone Gabrielle, on top on the flurry of disasters impacting the region. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says that Chris Hipkins' appearance at Sunday's welcome reception was a surprise, as guests were unsure as to whether he would appear. Fran O'Sullivan observed that Chris Hipkins was well received, as he made plenty of jokes and enforced the idea that Auckland needed a boost, as it was the economic powerhouse of the nation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has announced $11.5 million will go towards those responding to Cyclone Gabrielle. The Prime Minister delivered his post-Cabinet press conference over live-stream, as all domestic flights were grounded due to extreme weather. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says that this package will be reallocated from underspent Covid-19 relief funding. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's edition of The Huddle, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and independent journalist Clare de Lore joined in on a discussion about the following pressing topics: Auckland Grammar faced backlash online for being the only Auckland school that opened today, despite concerns surrounding Cyclone Gabrielle. Did they make the right decision by opening before the worst of the weather hit? Would you have wanted your kids at school today? The Taxpayers' Union wants Eleanor Catton to pay back subsides she's been given following her comments in an RNZ interview. Was this a fair request? Do you agree with The Taxpayers' Union? National and Labour are neck and neck in a new poll from The Taxpayers Union/Curia. What is National doing wrong? Does Luxon have an image problem? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minimum wage is set to rise by $1.50 to $22.70 in April, and businesses have voiced their disapproval. New data from Retail NZ has stated that 88 percent of retailers aren't in favour of this hike, and half of the survey participants plan to cut hours and jobs across stores.  Finance Minister Grant Robertson has defended the minimum wage hike, saying it's the right solution to the current cost of living crisis. Grant Robertson says this minimum wage increase will put pressure on small businesses, but it's important for the lowest paid Kiwis to be financially supported. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers' Union have recently stated that Eleanor Catton should use her royalties to pay back her subsidies. This was as a response to an interview Eleanor Catton gave to RNZ over the weekend, in which she labelled the Union 'sinister' while promoting her latest book. Taxpayers Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says these comments from Catton came out of nowhere. Jordan Williams says that Eleanor Catton's comments were still hypocritical, and that she should pay back her royalties to fund up and coming artists instead of complaining about New Zealand not funding the industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rihanna marked her return to the stage at Super Bowl halftime show by teasing her second pregnancy. Today's performance at the Super Bowl was the star's first live concert appearance in seven years, and she performed a medley of hits from her long musical career. Fans took to social media to speculate on Rihanna's pregnancy, as the visible bump and promise of a “surprise guest” suggested the rumour was true. US entertainment correspondent Sean Mandell says that a representative has confirmed Rihanna is due to have a second baby with A$AP Rocky, mere months after her first child. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's understood only one school opened in Auckland today. Auckland Grammar ignored Ministry of Education advice to close, instead opening from 9am until 2pm with reduced breaks. Headmaster Tim O'Connor says that was based on information the weather would worsen about 3pm. He says Covid-19 has created a habit of school closures - which sends a subconscious message to students and parents that education doesn't matter. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says 2am will be a "tricky point" as Cyclone Gabrielle leaves her mark on the city. Heavy rain and severe winds are ramping back up in Auckland after a brief lull, returning with a southwesterly direction, with high tide at 2am. Mayor Brown says people should evacuate immediately immediately if their home floods, as there are 26 shelter locations across Auckland   A State of Emergency is in place in eight regions - Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Hauraki, Tairawhiti, Whakatane and Opotiki. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of refugees will be settling permanently in Australia following the Albanese Government's latest overhaul. The Australian Government will be granting 19,000 migrants on Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) and Temporary Protection Visas (TPVS) transitions to permanent visa status. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this decision has generated criticism, with opponents saying that it will lead to a revival of the people smuggling trade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl LVII in a surprise comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes shook off an ankle injury and turned the Kansas City Chiefs around in the fourth quarter, giving them a final score of 38-35. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine says this is the second Super Bowl the Kansas City Chiefs have won in two years and Patrick Mahomes' work on the field puts him in the running to be football's next GOAT. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain is easing across Northland, which was battered by the cyclone over the weekend. A Whangarei weather station has recorded 334 millimetres since Saturday evening and people near rivers in the CBD were told to evacuate before high tide today. Whangarei mayor Vince Cocurullo says  it looks like they are through the worst of it. Seven North Island regions are now in a state of emergency, with Whakatane and Waikato joining the list this afternoon. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of all the schools in Auckland today, this is the list of schools that made the right decision re: the weather  Auckland Grammar. That’s the list. As far as we can tell, Auckland Grammar is the only school that opened today. Every other school chose to shut its doors and not teach kids today.  That decision has earned Auckland Grammar the opprobrium of social media, who have called the school elitist, entitled, irresponsible, ignorant. And the principal an a-hole and a dickhead. Turns out those haters are wrong, Tim O’Connor has been vindicated. He looked at the weather report like any one of the other principals could’ve, and saw that the rain wasn’t due to start really coming in until around 3 o’clock. So he made the call to run school from 9am to 2pm and get the kids home before the weather really packed up. And as predicted, the rain started packing up around 3 o’clock. But until then it was, for the most part, just a wet day in Auckland. Tim O’Connor is a principal doing his job, which is to get kids

It was a theft which rocked the small town of Dannevirke. A bird, and not just any bird, but a rare huia. It was unique. Part of a pair of birds shot in the late 19th century, preserved, and given as a wedding present, and passed down through the generations. In 1990, the pair were given to the Gallery of History in the Tararua District town where they could be kept in a glass-fronted case so visitors could view them. The unique piece of New Zealand’s history became a major attraction to the museum. Huia feathers are known as the “world’s most expensive feathers” where one single feather was once auctioned off for $8000. The birds, endemic to the North Island, are thought to be extinct, but there may have been sightings as late as the 1990s. The volunteers at the Gallery of History will never forget what happened that day in July 2020. The pair had already been targeted once, with someone making off with tail feathers from the male in 2012. In July 2020, two visitors came in and left a short time later. Despi

Air New Zealand is asking people to reconsider their travel plans this weekend. CEO Greg Foran says they are expecting delays if cyclone Gabrielle hits with the forecast force, especially north of Taupo.  He says the airline has been contacting people through social media and directly. Mr Foran says that Air New Zealand will be offering customers flexibility. He says they will offer passengers alternative flights or credit if they have to change their plans. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.