9141 episodes
Callam Mitchell: Electric Avenue festival director on the release of the 2027 festival lineup
17/09/2026 | 2 mins.Four years of chasing one act has finally paid off for Electric Avenue's boss.
American rockers Kings of Leon and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris will headline the two-day festival in Christchurch's Hagley Park next February.
Festival director Callam Mitchell says he's most looking forward to the two headliners, as well as British electronic group Underworld - who he's spent years trying to book.
"I used to DJ a lot in the 90s and early 2000s, and there are a couple of Underworld records that didn't leave my record bin for years - so it's been a pet project of mine."
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Ginny Andersen: Labour education spokesperson on the party promising new body to oversee school curriculum
17/09/2026 | 4 mins.The Opposition is opening the door to potentially keeping NCEA.
Labour's promising an independent council to oversee curriculum decisions if elected — and to keep NCEA until 2029.
It says that gives time to review the qualification, with changes properly planned and phased in.
Education spokesperson Ginny Andersen says the majority of submissions backed strengthening NCEA, rather than replacing it.
"Labour actually had cross-party, bipartisan agreement with National - that's exactly what we would do. That will be better for our kids to have stability in our education system."
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Stephen Toplis: BNZ Head of Research on what the second quarter GDP results mean for the economy
17/09/2026 | 1 mins.Economic growth has slowed, with New Zealand getting through the fuel crisis better than feared.
Stats NZ data shows GDP rose 0.2 percent in the June quarter, and annual growth reached a two-year high on 1.7 percent.
Many economists were forecasting a contraction when fuel prices started spiking in March.
BNZ Research Head, Stephen Toplis, says our growth's great, in the circumstances.
"We knew the country was under the cost during that period, largely because of rapidly rising oil prices - and it was struggling. But at least it was struggling with the positive sign in front of it."
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17/09/2026 | 4 mins.New Zealand is outperforming other countries in annual economic growth, but appears to have been hit harder by fuel hikes.
Stats NZ data shows GDP rose 1.7 percent in the year to June - the highest rate in more than two years.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says achieving growth amid the ongoing Iran war is a good result - with many key business sectors adding to these results.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on Minister Tony Burke announcing plans to reduce migration in Australia
17/09/2026 | 5 mins.Over in Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is looking to crack down on migration and increase deportations.
Harsher terms for overstayers and a backpacked ballot were among the ideas Burke expressed interest in as part of this overhaul.
Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the migration issue is a big point of interest for regional Australians, as hospitality leaders and farmers rely on backpackers to supplement their labour force.
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About Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.
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