Larry Williams Drive

Auckland won't be scrapping its green food scrap bins any time soon. Whanganui District Council is dropping its kerbside service to save a 1.5 percent rate increase. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown believes Auckland could do the same. It costs much more to offset carbon with food waste bins - than the carbon credits system. Auckland Council Waste Solutions general manager Justine Haves says the service reduces landfill waste. "We regularly hear from communities that they don't want more landfills, so in order to achieve that, we need to achieve waste minimisation."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to personally meet with Vladimir Putin on Thursday to discuss ending the war. This comes after Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Putin's offer of direct talks between the two countries in Turkey. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and China have agreed to slash their reciprocal tariffs by 115 percent for 90 days. Washington imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports at the start of the year - and Beijing responded with a 125 percent levy on some US goods. But this weekend's trade negotiations between US and Chinese officials in Switzerland appear to have gone well.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out for businesses who took out a Covid Small Business Cashflow Scheme. It's five years today since Inland Revenue introduced the loans. They were issued to more than 129,000 businesses and totalled $2.4 billion. The IRD says they're now reaching their cut-off point, and default loans not paid in full will be enforced. ABC Business Sales managing director unveils how many businesses are still owing - and by how much. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day -  and more! Andrea Vance's piece in the Sunday Star Times calling female Government MPs the c-word and accusing Nicola Willis of 'girl math' has copped some backlash. What did we think when we read that? Erica Stanford has been brought on board to figure out how to ban under-16s from social media - what do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of remarkable things about that C-word column yesterday, and one of them is that it is still up online, and apparently no one is sorry for this. If you haven't seen this column, let me get you up to speed on this: Yesterday, Sunday Star Times columnist Andrea Vance did something that I would venture no other mainstream columnist has ever done in this country - she called a minister of the Crown a c-word in the newspaper.  She didn't write the c-word out, she wrote it as c....The subject of it was the gender pay equity revamp, the minister was Nicola Willis and Andrea wrote - "turns out you can have it all, so long as you're prepared to be a C...." Now, I don't even know how to start explaining to you how wild it is that that happened yesterday, that Andrea dropped the C-bomb in the Sunday Star Times. That word is the 2nd most banned word on radio. We are not allowed to say it - and if we do, go to town on us and complain because somebody is going to get in a huge amount of trouble, a

The Finance Minister's keeping a cool head, despite being the subject of some colourful language in yesterday's papers.  The Post's Andrea Vance wrote a column on Sunday levelling the c-word at Nicola Willis - as well as Judith Collins, Louise Upston, Nicola Grigg, Brooke van Velden and Erica Stanford in response to the Government's pay equity changes.  Nicola Willis says she's used to criticism and insults as part of politics, but she's voiced concerns about the implications for other women. "I always think about other young women who want to go into politics, and I don't want them to think that it's okay to have their gender weaponised against them - and I don't want any young women to think there's a difference between girl maths and boy maths. It's called maths." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 12 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis responds to a Stuff journalist who called her the c-word and accused her of doing "girl maths". Act and National are squabbling in public again - this time over the proposed ban of social media for under 16s. Heather asks David Seymour whether he would ever support a ban if it was technically possible. NZ Open boss Michael Glading responds to Ryan Fox' huge PGA Tour win. Plus, the Huddle responds to Andrea Vance's c-word column.   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.

Auckland's mayor is calling for more leadership - and labelling the city's innovation and tech sector 'random'.  Wayne Brown has laid out a to-do list for central Government before it releases its Budget this month.   He wants a tourist bed tax, looser transit visas, and more preparations for major population growth.  Brown says a bed tax would fund bigger projects he has planned for the city - and he's hoping the Government will reconsider one. "We've just had two-thirds of the Aucklanders thinking it's a hell of a good idea to get some funds in to watch big events - and the hoteliers up here think it's a good idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a big day in the world of New Zealand golf, as Ryan Fox walks away with another sporting achievement. A playoff victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina makes the 38-year-old just the ninth Kiwi to win on the Tour - and first in a decade. NZ Open tournament director Michael Glading says this is a 'game-changing' moment for Fox. "It's just fantastic for him - he was in a position a couple of years ago where he could have joined the LIV, but he chose to go on the PGA tour because ever since he was a kid, he wanted to play the PGA Tour." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour's denying the Coalition's back in choppy waters over National's proposed social media ban.  Education Minister Erica Stanford is looking into ways to restrict access for under-16s. Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed Seymour's on the same page, despite the ACT leader calling it unworkable.  Seymour says he still has questions about how it's possible.  He says within days of the Bill coming out, Luxon admitted more work was needed - which proves his point.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says she's excited to expand maths tutoring - after a pilot with 3,000 children launched. About $40 million will go into small-group tutoring in years seven and eight.  It's part of a $100 million boost in maths funding over four years, announced as part of Budget 2025.  Erica Stanford says just 20 hours of tutoring is already producing a marked improvement.  She says it's great for students.  "They can now be involved in the whole class teaching because they understand the concepts - so it's been massively positive across the board." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister won't comment on the resignation of New Zealand's second most powerful cop, Jevon McSkimming. The Deputy Police Commissioner had been on suspension since December - but Police Minister Mark Mitchell has now confirmed he's resigned with immediate effect after new serious allegations. Mitchell says the Prime Minister had already been considering recommending the Governor General immediately remove McSkimming from office.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Liberal Party MPs will meet tomorrow to vote in replacing defeated opposition leader Peter Dutton. As well decisively losing to Labor's Anthony Albanese - Dutton also lost his long-held Queensland seat.  Deputy leader Sussan Ley, shadow treasurer and immigration minister Angus Taylor and Dan Tehan are among the leading Liberal party contenders. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Angus Taylor is currently the front-runner ahead of tomorrow's vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hectic few hours for Ryan Fox in the wake of one of the biggest triumphs of his golfing career. He's won on the PGA Tour for the first time - chipping in from off the green to win a three-way playoff at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes that tougher penalties for boy racers and fleeing drivers will do the trick.  The Government's establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction for street racers, those who flee police, and intimidating convoys.  Police will also get greater powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas.  Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden has voiced support for these new measures. "Hopefully, this sort of implementation of this sort of policy will be a deterrent for them all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 9 May 2025, the Government is pushing ahead with its review of the Waitangi Tribunal. Minister for Maori Development Tama Potaka tells Heather whether the tribunal is going too far. Plus Erica Stanford talks through the changes to the redress scheme for victims of abuse in state care. We find out more about the new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV and speak to Cardinal John Dew who was in the conclave itself. Heather has plenty more to say about the state of New Zealand Rugby finances. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports Journalist Lavina Good and Newstalk ZB's Adam Cooper join the Huddle.  The Huddle discusses Netball New Zealand's current rules stating players must play in the ANZ Premiership to be available for the national team.  Nine Kiwi crickets have left Pakistan as the Super League transfers to the UAE amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India.  Where does this leave the players? New Zealand Rugby has posted huge losses despite a record income last year. Could we expect job losses?  The Huddle discuss all this and more.  LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to cut tariffs on UK autos, steel and aluminum in a trade deal. In the deal, the United Kingdom will buy more US beef and ethanol, streamlining it customs process for goods from the country. Who came out better in the deal? UK Correspondent Gavin Grey discusses the terms, the impact on domestic industries and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade officials from the worlds biggest economies are coming together for discussions this weekend.  US-President Donald Trump says tariffs on goods from China may come down.  Asia Business Correspondent says people shouldn't get their hopes up.  "These aren't really negotiations about trade, they're talks about having talks," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.