Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Taxpayers have footed a legal aid bill of almost $900,000 for the defence of the Mama Hooch rapists. They have already said they will appeal, so the figure is set to rise significantly. Meanwhile, the victims get essentially nothing. Is that fair?

Nadene Lomu has sent a cease-and-desist letter to New Zealand Film Commission over a proposed documentary about her late husband Jonah. She says she's trademarked his name. Do you reckon she's got a leg to stand on here?

Parts of Wellington have been shut down ahead of tomorrow's expected protest at Parliament. Is this the right decision for the region?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employment confidence is declining, with workers claiming it's gotten harder to find jobs.

The Westpac McDermott Miller employment confidence index fell in the September quarter.

Economists also warn unemployment is likely to rise for the rest of the year.

EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says the company's advice line is seeing a wave of inquiries about restructuring and redundancy advice.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The property market roared to life in August, according to new data. 

The Reserve Bank's latest mortgage lending data shows banks issued $5.8 billion worth of mortgages last month- up 15.7 percent from July.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says this marks a turnaround for the property market.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party has laid out their newly proposed fiscal policy ahead of the election.

Labour has pledged to look for more savings across the books, and keep net debt under 30 percent of GDP. 

Milford Asset Management's Frances Sweetman says Labour's 'careful and balanced' fiscal plan comes with a few caveats.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legal expert has concluded Nadene Lomu may not be able to stop a documentary being made about her late husband.

Jonah Lomu’s widow has written a cease-and-desist letter to the New Zealand Film Commission over a proposed documentary about the deceased rugby star.

Nadene Lomu said she had trademarked and owned the intellectual property for 'all and anything' related to Jonah.

AJ Park litigation principal Thomas Huthwaite says Nadene Lomu won't be able to prevent an independent story from being told.

"On the other hand, if she's looking to prevent the use of the name Jonah Lomu as a trademark or in any other way that suggest authorisation- then she might have an argument for that."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent victim advocate says there's a mismatch between the support victims and offenders get from the justice system.

Taxpayers have forked out $900,000 in legal aid for rapists Danny and Roberto Jaz.

The pair were convicted for 69 offences between them including rape and sexual violation, they were sentenced to 17 and 16 and half years in jail respectively.

Ruth Money says the money victims are given to turn up in court isn't enough.

"It's a ridiculous amount of money that doesn't cover your childcare, it doesn't cover your lost income, it doesn't cover the stress that you are put under."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington business owner is incredibly frustrated over police precautions ahead of a planned protest.

Brian Tamaki's Freedoms and Rights Coalition plans action tomorrow, alongside other protests in coming days.

Police have shut some roads and access ways to Parliament.

Backbencher pub owner Alistair Boyce says it's unnecessary.

"They are not a foreign power invading the country- this Parliamentary precinct, at the moment, looks like we're protecting ourselves against tanks and an invading army."

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking increasingly likely Chris Luxon will have to pick up the phone to Winston Peters next month.

Tonight's One News/ Verian Poll shows New Zealand First is on 6 percent - up a point - and remaining in a kingmaker position.

Labour and National have both dropped 1 point - to 26 and and 36 percent- and Act's steady on 12.

The Greens are on 13, and Te Pati Maori is at 2 percent.

National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says it shows the election will come down to the wire.

"People listening need to know- if you want a change of Government, you are going to have to vote for it, and that's a party vote for National. Because any other vote could put a change of Government at risk."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub's Paddy Gower says National and Labour's leaders are gutless for refusing to debate their colleagues in the minor parties.

He will moderate the show-down between Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins in Auckland tonight, after last week's TVNZ debate.

Gower says it's important for the pair to face-off, but it seems a bit historic that the other leaders won't be there.

"We know that whoever forms a Government, particularly this time around, is going to need 1 or 2 of those other parties- and they're going to be quite big. It's not just about these two main guys."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's David Parker has responded to National's criticism of the Party's fiscal plan.

The plan promises to look for more savings across the Government's books and to keep net debt under 30 percent of GDP.

But National questions Labour's credibility- saying it's blown all operating allowances set since 2017.

Associate Finance spokesperson Parker says it's because of Covid and the cyclone and flooding.

"That's no more true of us than it was of John Key when he had to meet the consequences of the global financial crisis, and then the Canterbury earthquakes. We're a very responsible Government, fiscally."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.