Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Taylor Swift fans all over Australia and New Zealand are getting ready to enjoy the Sydney leg of the Eras tour, including those hard of hearing.

Marni Van Vliet is a sign language interrupter for concerts all over Australia.

She says Told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that there are so many reasons to go to concerts, even when you are hard of hearing.

Saying deaf people want to experience a historical moment just like everyone else.

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The Union for the Public Service worker says that our border security is at risk of customs, goes ahead with staff cuts.

Customs are seeking voluntary redundancies and early retirements in an effort to save money.

National Secretary for the Public Service Association Duane Leo told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that ironic because this government has talked about being tough on crime in terms of organised crime and now our borders might be at threat again.

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A real estate agent who's refused to take a compulsory Māori culture training believes she has support from the public.

Janet Dickson is facing a five-year ban for not completing a short course on te ao Māori and tikanga -- and she's now seeking a judicial review.

Dickson told Heather du Plessis-Allan the course has nothing to do with her real estate work, and contradicts her religion.

She says she's been told by her employer Harcourts to go.

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The Chief Operating officer for Air Chatams is concerned by the potential for rising costs for airfares.

This comes as the cost of Auckland Airport’s $8 billion 10-year redevelopment plan is being passed on in airport fees and passenger levies.

COO of Air Chathams told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that the they had already seen a 20% drop in domestic flights and that number is likely to rise if things get more expensive.

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The case of the real estate agent being forced to do a Māori culture and tikanga course or lose her job is a case of bad judgment by the Real Estate Authority.

Estate agents have to do courses to retain their licenses. 

10 hours of training a year... mostly they can pick which topics they do  

But a couple are compulsory for everyone.  

And one of them – there's only two compulsory - and one of them was the Māori culture and tikanga course. 

Now an estate agent called Janet Dickson who works for Harcourt's objected to doing it because she says it's a “subject that is only peripherally connected” to her job. 

And she's right isn’t she? 

I mean a compulsory course on money laundering? Fair enough. 

Compulsory course on how to appropriately deal with issues and complaints? Fair enough. 

Sale and purchase agreements? Fair enough.

But Māori tikanga and culture? Hmmm... not convinced. 

Now look... I think your life is enriched by learning about different cultures and different ways of thinking about things... personally... I find this one of the most fascinating things in the world.

But that’s a personal choice.  it’s shouldn't’ be a job requirement for an estate agent 

And certainly not one that might leave Janet Dickson banned for five years from the job 

The Real Estate Authority probably has its heart in the right place but has made a massive error in judgment. 

For all the good they might’ve done in introducing some estate agents to diverse ways of thinking... they’ll have done as much harm in creating resentment amongst others by forcing them to do something largely irrelevant to their work.

Secondly.. By being heavy handed and threatening her with her job, they look like bullies.

This is the kind of red tape nonsense this country doesn’t need if we want to make doing business easier .

If it’s not related to the job, leave it out, no matter how worthy you think it is.

And for the record... It says a lot that that course was compulsory last year... this year... when it’s getting attention... It's now only voluntary.

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Over in the UK, research shows more drug-drivers have been arrested than drunk drivers by some forces.

Data shows over 48 percent of roadside arrests were for drug-diving, with drink-driving figures reduced.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says younger generations were more likely to consume cocaine and cannabis than drink before getting behind the wheel.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

It's been revealed that fees-free uni isn't getting more low-decile students into tertiary education. Should we scrap it if it doesn't make a difference?

Health NZ has removed the person that leaked the documents that led to Casey Costello's tobacco excise tax controversy. Will this be the last leak? Was removing them the right course of action?

More rats were found in a Dunedin Countdown again- should the building just be burned down?

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Researchers have today welcomed a clarification by the Environmental Protection Authority that allows them to enhance their research.

The EPA has ruled organisms known as null segregants are not considered GMOs- meaning they aren't subject to the same restrictions.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the impact of this announcement.

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NZ Herald's Liam Dann has been won over by a new set of AI developments.

Spark has rolled out some new technology designed to improve the world of construction and identify areas that need fixing- speeding up the process.

The Herald's business editor at large was impressed by the practical applications of this technology.

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Labour's Ginny Andersen has so far avoided a formal reprimand over her comments about Police Minister Mark Mitchell. 

The Labour MP accused him of of being paid to kill people in his role as a military contractor overseas in the 2000s.

ZB senior political correspondent says Andersen needs to issue an in-person apology for her 'defamatory' remarks. 

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