Sharesies is launching its own debit card today and promising the new product will be a change from traditional card reward programmes.

The micro-trading platform says the Sharesies Debit Mastercard will earn customers 1% “Investback”.

That meant earnings accrued from using the card would automatically be invested on a weekly basis into a nominated investment on the Sharesies app.

Sharesies Personal General Manager Scott Nixon joined the Afternoons team to discuss further.

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The Government says it has no intention of decriminalising drug use, despite a confronting new report.

The Drug Foundation paper suggest the Misuse of Drugs Act has compounded harm - and needs overhauling.

But Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says change isn't on the agenda this term.

NZ Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm joined the Afternoons team to explain further.

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Top British security officials will face questions over an aborted China spying case brought by its chief prosecutor, which collapsed as it is seeking to rebuild economic ties with the country.

The case against Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash, who were charged last year under the Official Secrets Act over allegations they spied for China between 2021 and 2023, was dropped last month.

UK correspondent Gail Downey explained further.

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The Reserve Bank today slashed the OCR by 50 basis points to 2.5 percent, prompting markets to make readjustments.

This recent cut wasn't full priced in, and it's got some experts re-thinking their OCR outlooks ahead of the end of the year.

Milford Asset Management's Remy Morgan explains further.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Eight international rugby unions, including New Zealand, have tried to warn their players off joining the proposed Rugby 360 league. What do we make of all this?

The OCR dropped another 50 basis points today - should we be celebrating? Or could the central bank have done more?

National recently dropped below 30 percent in the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll. Should the coalition be worried here?

New reports on truancy have found that many families are still taking their kids out of class for holidays. Do we need to stagger holidays around the country so that flights to Fiji aren't so expensive for a specific 2-week period?

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ASB recently agreed to pay $135.6 million to settle a class action for allegedly breaching the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act.

ANZ has refused to settle, and it's prompted concerns over recent proposed banking reforms are at risk.

Banking Reform Coalition convener Kent Duston explained further.

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A major new report is warning that more than 1000 seaside homes could suffer significant damage from extreme weather by 2060.

And hundreds of thousands of homes worth an estimated $180 billion are located in flood-prone areas, according to Our Marine Environment 2025 from the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ.

Alison Collins from the Ministry for the Environment says many of these homes are in low-lying coastal communities and on flood plains.

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On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 8 October 2025, the Reserve Bank has pulled out the big guns and cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points today. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr speaks to Heather.

Former National Party staffer Ben Thomas says National polling in the 20s is not good news for Chris Luxon.

NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson explains why rugby unions across the world don't want players playing for a new rival league backed by Saudi Arabia.

New Zealand's best big airport is .... Queenstown Airport! Heather is surprised? She speaks with Queenstown Airport Chief Operating Officer Todd Grace.

Plus the Huddle debates that poll and Tory Whanau's final speech as Wellington mayor - surprising?

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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