Larry Williams Drive

Our latest monthly job numbers are out today. Infometrics say businesses are starting to turn to youth and older workers to fill the gaps in the workforce. Brad Olsen, Infometrics principal economist has been looking into this for us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in August, the Government announced it would give build to rent owners a tax break. We've just found out Inland Revenue and the Treasury opposed that decision. With us now is Jenee Tibshraeny, the NZ Herald Wellington business editor. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telecommunications company Vodafone announced that they will be re-branding to One New Zealand. This is set to come into effect in early 2023. Vodafone has stated that they made this decision in order to better reflect New Zealand and its development from a global group to a domestic operator.  Jason Paris, Vodafone CEO, is here with us to talk about the re-branding and explain the benefits of this decision. "A lot of people probably don't understand that when you're using the Vodafone brand in a market like New Zealand, you pay a lot of money for that privilege. And as we re-brand to One, it'll mean that all that money will be reinvested back into Aotearoa." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next year, the Census is scheduled to take place, and strategies to increase the turnout are already being discussed. The previous census had a lower turnout than expected, with only 83 percent of the eligible population filling it in as opposed to the target amount of 94 percent. As such, the focus for the next few months is to find a way to get interest in the census up before next March. Statistics Minister David Clark is with us now to talk about how the 2023 Census turnout will improve upon the 2018 results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study appears to have validated our collective dislike for pointless meetings.  New research coming out of the US confirms that meetings cost companies $175 million a year in productivity and that a third of them are pointless.  Professor of Human Resource Management at AUT, Jarrod Haar, joins us now to discuss the study and offer up some theories as to why this is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A petition with more than 8000 signatures  is calling on MP's everywhere to support Chloe Swarbrick's new anti-alcohol bill. The bill will ban alcohol sponsorship in sports and ban appeals of liquor licensing decisions. Alcohol Healthwatch's Executive Director, Nicki Jackson, joins us here to talk about the bill and highlight that it raises good points, but doesn't look likely to pass. "I can't make comment about what politicians think about a bill, it's important that we go into any debate with the evidence at hand and the evidence is really strong around the harm from alcohol sponsorships in sport." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been discussion surrounding TVNZ and RNZ merging. Willie Jackson, the Broadcasting Minister, admitted the broadcasting outlets were under-performing in terms of ratings, and the merger will counteract that. Despite this, Willie Jackson has confirmed that there won't be any further Government interference in these news networks.  Barry Soper, our political editor, joins us today to explain this discussion. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have updated us today on how they're helping our retailers fight crime. They're very excited, saying since May, 40 stores have had assessments completed, and 5 have had installations completed. That's anything from fog cannons, sirens and bollards. With us now is Sunny Kaushal, the Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hurricane Ian is set to make landfall within the next twenty-four hours. The category-three hurricane is set to arrive in Florida, with two and a half million Floridian residents under an evacuation warning.   Universal Studios and Disney World have shut down as well, and flights won't be leaving or departing for the next two days. Emergency services are also on hold.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joins us now, to update us on the expected damage Hurricane Ian will create. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in West Auckland, New Zealand's first Costco opened its' doors to the public. Hundreds of people made it to the grand opening, one of which was Marina Seager, a self described Costco superfan, who went all the way from Riverton for the opening event.  She's here with us now to explain why it's so important for her to bulk buy and make it to Costco despite the distance. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Huddle, Ali Jones of Red PR and Phil O'Reilly of Iron Duke Partners and former BusinessNZ CEO join us today to talk about: Zac Guildford's interview, he'll talk about rebuilding his life. Police faking information to get access to private CCTV cameras to track the Northland Women, is this justified? The big post-Cabinet announcement today reveals that the RSE scheme will be increased to include 19,000 workers instead of 16,000. Is this good for the industry?  NASA's newest launch went perfectly, did you follow this? All this and more will be discussed here on The Huddle! LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kiwi dollar has dropped to its lowest level against the U.S dollar since 2009. It's fallen in value by 19 per cent over the last year. With us now is Pattrick Smellie from Business Desk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has been receiving letters of no confidence and facing backlash three weeks into her new postition. According to UK correspondent Enda Brady, Tory MPs and voters alike aren't responding well to her and her economic policies are facing criticism. When paired with her seeming endorsement of controversial far-right Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, Enda Brady observes that things aren't looking good for Liz Truss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Council of Trade Unions has released its new economic strategy. Basically a wish list before the election. Ideas include a state-run investment bank, a four day work week, and a new Ministry of Green Works. With us now is the CTU economist, Craig Renney. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much trouble is looming for the Government's housing agency, Kainga ora? Earlier this year we found out it won't be able to repay its billions of dollars it debt it owes for the next 60 years. With us now is property commentator, Ashley Church who has been looking into its feasibility as a result. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zac Guildford, the former All Black who was previously found guilty of stealing $41000 from his grandfather 6 months ago in order to fund his gambling addiction, is turning his life around. He's in the process of serving his sentence- 9 months on home detention. He's been clean from drugs, alcohol, and gambling for a few months. Next year, following the conclusion of his sentence, he's set to be coaching and playing for the Woodend Rugby Club.  Zac Guildford views this as a positive development, and he's here today to discuss these positive changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA has successfully launched its DART spacecraft into an asteroid, proving the test mission successful. DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), was launched to test whether or not missiles could redirect any asteroids that may threaten Earth and cause any damage. Richard Easther, University of Auckland physics professor, joins us today to share his thoughts on the successful mission and how exactly DART works to stop asteroids. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has recently announced that they will allow 3000 more RSE's (Recognised Seasonal Employer) into the country, ahead of the upcoming agricultural season. This is the biggest upgrade the RSE scheme has had in over a decade and will bring the final total up to 19000 overall. Damien O'Connor, the current Agriculture Minister, joins us now to discuss where these workers will come from and how this will benefit the agriculture sector, which needs an extra boost following the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has recently been revealed that NZ Police falsely report cars as stolen in order to access vast networks of CCTV cameras. These false reporting tactics were used to hunt down the women involved in the October 2021 Northland lockdown investigation. Detective Superintendent for NZ Police, Dave Lynch, is here to explain. "We accept that the execution from the start in this case was poor, but ultimately what they did was lawful. And I think we need to put it in context. At the time we were in a lockdown, locating those individuals was one of our number one priorities." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently made an announcement about allowing an extra 3000 migrant workers to come into the country to fill the horticulture industry labour shortage. Political editor Barry Soper joins use here today to highlight why Labour has moved ahead with this choice- and how it was a necessity for the horticulture industry to thrive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.