Larry Williams Drive

The border is opening but there's concern international students aren't exactly queuing up to return to New Zealand. International education used to be our fourth-biggest export earner, bringing in 5 billion dollars a year. But it's feared new changes to post-study work rights for international students could be putting students off coming here. Chris Whelan, chief executive of Universities New Zealand, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Act right to be upset with Anne Tolley for announcing what she thinks Tauranga's priorities are for the by-election candidates? She's not an elected official but she seems to be doing a good job for Tauranga – so shouldn't she be able to give her take? Police this afternoon released a statement, saying they're concerned that apathy or acceptance of gun crime might be setting in in some communities. Who is to blame here? What do you want from the Budget tomorrow? Bostock apples are still exporting to Russia saying it's a humanitarian issue. Is it? Clare de Lore and David Farrar joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga doesn't have a mayor at the moment as you know but Anne Tolley, the commission chair in charge of running the city, has penned a letter with some priorities for the city for the candidates of the by-election next month.   She said three infrastructure projects need to be top of mind for candidates... Hewletts Road/Hull Road/Totara Street improvements, State Highway 29 grade separation and the Port of Tauranga extension. She also said early commentary from byelection candidates has been “out of touch” with the real needs of the constituency. Act and National have taken offence with Anne Tolley's comments. National Party candidate Sam Uffindell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people drive around in a sleep-deprived state. Auckland University scientists are researching how much sleep people can go without before starting to lose control of their impulses. They found even sleeping one hour less than usual immediately impacts reaction times. Auckland University's Arne Niewenhuys told Heather Du Plessis Allan another issue is whether people can still halt inappropriate actions. “For instance, you’re driving a car, like you kind of see the light go to green, you make a left turn but suddenly you see in your rearview mirror like a cyclist or a pedestrian walking and you kind of immediately take your foot back off that pedal.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Robertson and Nicola Willis face off on the eve of budget day. Jacinda Ardern is back and working from home. When are we going to see pre-departure testing scrapped? Chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katey Martin retires after nineteen years as a White Fern. Two more All Black front-rowers are headed to France. Tiger Woods has a crack at Phil Mickelson. Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US President has met grieving families of victims of the Buffalo shooting. An 18-year-old gunman shot 13 people, and killed 10 in a racially motivated attack on Saturday. He claimed to have been inspired by Christchurch's mosque shootings. Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis Allan Joe Biden warned a "hateful minority" mustn't be allowed to distort the nation, whose diversity is a strength. “He was very emotional and Joe Biden is, by nature, a very emotional person, wears his heart on his sleeve and he called this an act of terrorism.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We will hear a raft of company profit announcements in the next two weeks. Is the New Zealand share market performance, down over 5% so far this month, telling us investors expect poor results? We have results from a few retirement operators this week and this has been one of the weakest sectors this year with share prices all off over 20%. Is this the weak housing market and what are you expecting in terms of news here? And let's pivot to the budget, anything to be nervous about from tomorrow’s announcement? Frances Sweetman, Milford Asset Management, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've finally got to the bottom of how we’ve ended up in the ludicrous situation in last week’s immigration reset where nurses are not on the highest priority list for new migrants. If you heard our interview with the Aged Care Association last night, you’ll already know this seems to be the result of a massive stuff up. Turns out that – as suspected – the Aged Care Association asked the Government to bump nurses down from the highest priority list and instead put them on the list where they need to work for two years before they get their New Zealand residency. But the association also asked for nurses to be bonded to their employer for those two years so that the nurses wouldn’t come here to work for the aged care sector which pays less and immediately quit and go work for a DHB, which pays more. Problem is, that the Government only gave the association half of what it asked for: they only bumped the nurses down the priority lists but they didn’t bond them to employers. So, they’ve left the aged care sector

Assurances removing Covid testing requirements for travel won't put New Zealand at risk.  Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says pre-departure testing is now a lot less important in our protection framework.  He's indicated the requirement will go earlier than August – as had been announced. Auckland Airport's chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui told Heather du Plessis-Allan other barriers remain in place. “Such as RATs on arrival or requirements in the system that prevent people with symptoms from getting on planes that don’t rely on pre-departure tests.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unease we're becoming a bit blasé about shootings. Police are investigating two gang-related shootings within days of each other in Wairoa – including one where a child's bedroom window was destroyed by a shotgun blast. They say several people had heard the gunshots and not reported them. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Heather du Plessis-Allan he thinks it's because we're seeing so many firearms incidents reported every day. “It’s why we’ve been arguing for so long about the need to have much better gun control in New Zealand because this is the outcome of it, it becomes the norm.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Construction companies are falling over because they can't get supplies to finish projects. Concerns have been growing over gib board shortages – but there are also delays with steel mesh and insulation. Master Builders Association CEO David Kelly told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the operating environment is really difficult. “If you can’t get those products then you have a delay and then that compounds because you then can’t get the other specialist trades or sub-trades to come and do the next bit of work.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Rooney is to give evidence today in the Wagatha Christie trial. Bank of England governor warns of "apocalyptic" inflation this year. Eurovision winners gave an incredible rendition of a song at the Polish border on their way home. UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian election is just a few days away, and if you listen to the opinion polls, we're about to see a change in government.  Anthony Albanese's Labor Party looks set to take over from Scott Morrison in the middle of rising inflation and rising interest rates. So, question is, what difference will a new government make to the economy? Paul Bloxham is HSBC's chief economist, he joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The farming response to the Emissions Reduction Plan. Another crucial GDT auction tonight? Down another 2%??? after the last 8.5% tumble. Will Westland Milk kick Gloriavale to touch? What will Hopeful Christian and Fervent Steadfast do with their milk? Host of the Country Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infometrics is warning the NZ economy is red-lining and resource constraints are making growth almost impossible. The latest quarterly economic monitor shows economic activity rose 2% per annum but underlying growth was flat from last quarter. Brad Olsen, Infometrics principal economist, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, Grant Robertson was on the show talking about the immigration reset. Heather asked him whether the Government will change the green list and allow nurses to qualify for residency like doctors and engineers... Rather than having to wait for two years.  The answer was no. Now one of those who has been giving advice is the Aged Care Association. Chief executive Simon Wallace joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, Grant Robertson was on the show talking about the immigration reset. Heather asked him whether the Government will change the green list and allow nurses to qualify for residency like doctors and engineers... Rather than having to wait for two years.  The answer was no. Now one of those who has been giving advice is the Aged Care Association. Chief executive Simon Wallace joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Foreign Minister Matt Robson has raised some eyebrows... speaking in support of Russia in an interview with Russian sponsored TV RT. What do you make of this? Do you have a problem with NZ on Air funding a documentary on Chlöe Swarbrick? Apparently, it won't air until after the election if that makes a difference. Should the Government step in to fund a new building for Hutt Hospital? Is Christopher Luxon right to argue we shouldn't fund corporations to become clean and green? Nick Leggett, Transporting New Zealand, and Simon Wilson, NZ Herald senior writer, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the day when McDonalds has officially pulled out of Russia, our former Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Robson is causing a stir for his involvement with state-controlled television network Russia Today. The former minister under the Helen Clark Government has given a series of interviews. Labelling 'NATO' as a terrorist organisation and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of 'promoting fascists'. Robson has since expressed that he has no regrets for his comments. Matt Robson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.