Larry Williams Drive

Experts believe Budget Day is a useful tool for outlining the latest forecasts for the economy. Treasury has responded positively so far - with GDP predicted to rise, unemployment predicted to drop and house prices predicted to go up again. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   The 2025 Budget was unveiled today - what did we think of it?  Do we agree cutting down Government KiwiSaver contributions was the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 22 May 2025, Heather is live from Parliament for Budget 2025 and gets first up reaction from Labour Leader Chris Hipkins. She asks Finance Minister Nicola Willis whether she's gone far enough to get spending under control and why she is making changes to Kiwisaver. Plus, the Huddle debates the details in the Budget and whether it will get the economy humming. Former NRL star George Burgess defends the "Run It" event he was a part of, after the event led to two people with head injuries. And the South African High Commissioner to NZ gives his reaction to the extraordinary Cyril Ramaphosa-Donald Trump meeting. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High praise for South Africa's president after being confronted by Donald Trump at the White House. There was a tense exchange this morning between the US President and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump alleged white farmers are fleeing South Africa en masse, with thousands being massacred there. He demanded video be played that he claimed backed up his allegations. South Africa's High Commissioner to New Zealand, Johhny Sexwale, says Ramaphosa handled himself well. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's bid to bring hope back to New Zealand's gas sector has been met with approval from industry experts. In the Budget, the Government said it would set aside $200 million over four years for co‑investment in new gas fields. Former CEO and president of Methanex, Bruce Aitken, says this is a good idea. "Anything that encourages exploration for natural gas is great - it's a real pity that the Government has to do it, but I think there's an inevitability that you need to take some risk out of exploration." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 9000 young people will no longer be eligible for the unemployment benefit when the Government brings in stricter rules in 2027. Budget 2025 includes a change which places the responsibility for financially supporting 18- and 19-year-olds back on parents, rather than the state. Former Work and Income Boss Christine Rankin says she loves the Government plan to kick young people off the benefit.  "The benefit is the road to poverty - it's a terrible situation to allow them to be in when they should be starting their working lives or studying." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The infamous Runit Championship League made its debut in Auckland this week and one former NRL star is defending the event. The sport involves rival participants running straight at each other at full force - and many leading neuroscience experts have condemned it and outlined the risks. George Burgess says the competitors know what they're doing and they're not aiming to hurt each other. "Every sport that we have in our society is to remind us of our warrior past and to simulate warfare in a safe way - and that's exactly what we do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says refusing unemployment benefits to teenagers is about helping parents.  This Budget makes 18 and 19-year-olds ineligible for JobSeeker, if their parents can support them.  Nicola Willis says the Government has the same expectations as most parents.  "I have met parents who say - look, I've got a 19-year-old who spends all day on the couch playing PlayStation and it's pretty difficult because you, the Government, send them a check each fortnight." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 Budget has been unveiled and it's been met with divided responses across Parliament. Cost-cutting measures have pulled back $4.8 billion per year - a large portion from the recent rushed overhaul of pay equity claims.  Savings have also come from halving its KiwiSaver contribution, slashing family Best Start payments and restricting 18 and 19 year olds' access to welfare - moving the load to parents. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says ACT and NZ First have voiced support - but the Greens and Te Pati Māori aren't happy with it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands have been left stranded by flooding overnight in New South Wales. NSW State Emergency Services personnel have rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and rooftops in the Mid North Coast and Hunter region - while thousands have lost power or been isolated by inundated roads.  One person has died and five have been reported missing. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says multiple small towns have been cut off - and rescue efforts are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Ferns are finding a balance between World Cup prep and putting out a winning side for Saturday's Pacific Four game against the United States. Four players are in line to debut - including Sevens duo Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has been quick to voice his concerns with the 2025 Budget. Hipkins took aim at the pay equity changes - and opposed the new initiatives around oil and gas. "If you think about it - it's saying to women that they're worth less, it's saying to all working New Zealanders that your KiwiSaver, when you reach retirement, will be worth less." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t want to start on a bum note, but if you share my view that this country is in a hot mess financially, then this Budget is underwhelming, disappointing - you pick your epithet. It’s called the growth Budget, but there's no growth in it. The only growth is a result of a tax incentive scheme which is a good idea - but doesn’t go far enough. It lifts GDP by, get this, 1 percent over 20 years. What is that? Is that growth or a rounding error?  In fact, the Budget is full of this kind of thing - good ideas that are only half baked. Cutting 18 and 19 year olds off the dole and making the parents taking responsibility is a great idea - but it's so full of loopholes, so you can see exactly how those kids are going to get around the rules and stay on the dole. Cutting the Government KiwiSaver contribution to rich people is exactly what should happen - but it should be cut to everyone. The gas exploration money is exactly what needs to happen - but it's tiny, a couple of hundred million dolla

More than 65,000 Airbnb listings in Spain are set to be shut down amid a row over runaway house prices in the country. The Government has come under increasing pressure to tame a surge in house prices and rents, which have doubled in less than a decade in some tourism hotspots. Airbnb listings have been partly blamed for swallowing up the housing stock in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia - and mass protests have started up ahead of the summer season. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says many young people have been locked out of the housing market as a result of over-tourism - and there's growing calls for change.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 is set to be revealed to the nation tomorrow - and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised it will be a “No BS Budget” with “some surprises”. Willis will take a step towards unwinding the expansion of Government that accompanied (and followed) the pandemic - while growing the economy. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny outlines some questions she hopes to see resolved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Conor English from Government relations firm Silvereye and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Should Tonkin + Taylor sack the staffer who was caught heckling Winston Peters?  Waitakere Hospital ED raised some eyebrows when they started handing out vouchers for patients to go to urgent care clinics. What do we make of this? It's Budget Day tomorrow - what do we hope to get out of it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mastercard has recently released a survey showing a significant amount of Kiwis want credit card surcharges banned. The data shows 61 percent of respondents would support a ban and 75 percent don't believe surcharges are fair - and 44 percent feel retailers should absorb the costs. Consumer NZ's Acting Head of Research and Advocacy, Jessica Walker, says the surcharge debate is a complicated topic. "Businesses are charged a fee for using these payment networks - and of course, Visa and Mastercard are going to benefit from surcharges being banned, because it means more people will use Visa and Mastercard." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A record number of businesses have sought advice about redundancies in the first three months of the year, according to new Employers and Manufacturers Association data. EMA’s AdviceLine received 403 queries from businesses on the topic of restructuring and redundancies last quarter - almost double that in the same period two years ago (204). EMA’s head of advocacy and strategy Alan McDonald says this reflects many years of tough economic conditions. "The last resort play for a lot of businesses when they look at their costs is - well, we're going to have to restructure the number of people. And that's what's happening." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 21 May 2025, is international pressure on Israel having an effect? Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall tells Heather so far no aid has got through to starving people in Gaza.  The Revenue Minister explains why the Government will no longer try to make big tech companies like Google and Meta pay more tax.  Sad news as iconic Auckland retailer Smith & Caughey announced it will close forever after trying to save its business for over a year.  Plus, the Huddle debates whether Tonkin & Taylor should sack the naughty employee who had a very public go at Winston Peters. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free speech advocates says Tonkin + Taylor doesn't need to apologise for an employee allegedly heckling the Deputy Prime Minister.  A man appearing to be wearing a company lanyard yelled and swore at Winston Peters after an announcement on rail funding at Wellington's train station. The engineering firm has since apologised and says it'll investigate. The Free Speech Union's Nick Hanne says there's a line between work and personal expression.  "This is an issue that isn't actually directly related to the work that their employee does - and of course to what they do as a company - so it just seems like complete over-reach." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.