Larry Williams Drive

Wellingtonians have one less candidate to choose from as current Mayor Tory Whanau bows out of the race. She has instead endorsed Labour’s Andrew Little for the position. Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung is running against Andrew Little, and he talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the race and whether Whanau will now be Andrew Little's deputy. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian Liberal Party leader Mark Carney has won the election, leading his party into a fourth-consecutive term in power. The former Bank of England boss had never held a political role before taking over from Justin Trudeau in March. Canada Correspondent Cat Tunney joins the show to discuss the win and the elections final moments. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is set to half its operating allowance, through a $1b cut in the upcoming budget. It means a small number of government departments will receiveadditional funding this year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the cut. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s plan to reduce the operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion is the smallest amount of new spending in a decade. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has decided to make departments metabolise their own spending in order to get books back into surplus. New Zealand Herald Political Editor Thomas Coughlan talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the ‘big’ decision, KiwiSaver subsidies and Tory Whanau dropping out of the Wellington race. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing incident today heard from the police officer who shot dead the attacker. Amy Scott said she thought Joel Cauchi was going to kill her before she shot him. It’s been revealed that Cauchi hadn’t been treated for acute schizophrenia for five years. Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joins the show to discuss the details, the start of a trial for alleged mushroom poisoning and the NRL’s Welcome to Country cancellation drama. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRL’s calling on referees to crackdown on head contact. It comes as the sports latest round saw 18 yellow cards. But some are saying it’s part of the game and becoming too strict runs the risk of slowing the game down. Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joins the show to discuss how the rules might change, a new game coming to New Zealand that has people concerned. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour’s calling on mayors to help in reducing school truancies. The Associate Education Minister’s asking mayors to use the Government’s new daily school attendance dashboard to understand how regions compare to each other. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says Seymour's plea was vague. “So if he wants to play us a formal role, I think he needs to look at funding us." LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Nicola Willis can pull this Budget off, it'll be impressive, because she has written a budget, by the looks of things, that is so tight, there is basically no new money. If you haven’t caught up on this, Nicola Willis gave a speech this morning in which she announced she was cutting back her new spending in this budget hugely. Her plan originally was to give herself $2.4 billion extra new money to spend. She’s just announced she’s cutting that basically in half to $1.3 billion. The last time a finance minister had that little to play with was Bill English in 2015 who gave himself only 1 billion in extra money that year. But it gets even better – because all of that money is already spoken for, last years budget promised this year’s budget would spend an extra $1.4 billion on health. Which basically means her $1.3 billion in new spending is already gone on that $1.4 billion health promise ... and she still has to find $100 million to make up the difference. AND ... she’s got to find another $150 millio

Look, maybe I'm being naïve, but I'm not that stressed at the news that 3 people were allowed to start police college without passing the fitness test. Were you? I mean, it seems to be more important to just have police officers and more police officers walking the beat and providing a reassuring presence than it is to be absolutely sure that they can do a vertical jump and run 2.5 km in 12 odd minutes. I don't know - when was the last time you saw Bobby sprinting 2ks down the road and jumping over a wall to catch somebody, right? Doesn't seem like it's all that frequently happening in modern policing - certainly in cities. But it doesn't mean we haven't got a problem. We've got a problem here. The problem is that the Government is still pretending that it can pump out 500 new police officers by November 27. That's not gonna happen. I mean, they are trying absolutely everything to be able to meet their target. They've bumped up the number of training spots they've got at the police college from 80 t

New reports reveal the identities of serving members of Britain's special forces had been published online for more than a decade. This security breach saw the names and ranks of at least 20 elite soldiers listed in documents that were publicly accessible online. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacked the mass reactions to this development.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first 100 days of the new Donald Trump administration have seen capital markets undergo a turbulent few months - but things appear to be stabilising. The tariffs have seen the markets take a noticeable dip, but things have turned the corner this week. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains the factors behind this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 28 April 2025, reputable builders will be able to sign off on their own work without council inspections. Heather asks the Building Minister how any leaky homes-like disasters will be prevented. Dunedin councillor Jim O'Malley explains why his council won't be reducing speed limits around schools like the Government asked councils to. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals she won't be announcing a tax on charities at the Budget - and throws her colleague Scott Simpson under the bus. Plus, the Huddle debates whether councils should be able to take unpaid rates from your mortgage, and whether cops should still have to pass fitness tests. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson and Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  How do we feel about councils taking unpaid rates out of people's mortgages? Is this a fair move - or an over-reach?  Police are investigating after three recruits were admitted for training despite failing their physical test. Do we think police should still pass a physical test - or is this irrelevant?  How do we feel about tradies being able to self-certify their work? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Airports Association has voiced disapproval with the latest review of their regulatory arrangements - and suggested the scrutiny needs to be on Air New Zealand. MBIE has launched another review of airport regulations, just three weeks after the Commerce Commission gave Auckland Airport the tick of approval for an upgrade. NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore says it's clear there's plenty of strain on the domestic market - and Air New Zealand has a 'monopoly' over that market. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is calling on Auckland Council to be transparent about its Waitākere Ranges management plan.  The proposed plan would see Iwi, the Department of Conservation, the Council and local boards on a committee.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she's heard a range of views about whether or not it equates to co-governance.  She says they should come clean about it to reduce confusion.  "And I think they should be very clear with their ratepayers about what they're doing - and why they're doing it." Auckland Councillor Richard Hills says the board doesn't have final say and is only for consultation and suggestions.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils are taking millions of dollars of unpaid rates through people's mortgages.  A little-known clause of the Local Government Act gives councils the power to force banks or finance companies to cover unpaid rates.  It's used as a last resort after exhausting all other avenues to getting rates paid. Taxpayers' Union Local Government Spokesperson, Sam Warren, says it wouldn't be needed as much if there was more sensible spending.  "I want to see a lot more done by councils to rein in that spending and get rates down as low as possible so this doesn't happen."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Firefighters Union says a recent life-threatening equipment failure at Thursday's massive North Shore Recycling Plant blaze wasn't the first. Two firefighters needed rescue when their aerial unit broke down above the dangerous Wairau Valley blaze. Vice president Martin Campbell says this again highlights that the fleet is ageing and poorly-maintained. "In the days leading up to it, there were several faults with it - but unfortunately, we just don't have the trucks out there to replace it with and they don't have the time and money to make sure it's working properly." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Association is underlining why aspiring recruits need to pass the physical aptitude test before joining police college. Police are doing an audit after revelations three applicants got in - even after failing to meet fitness requirements. Association Vice President Paul Ormerod says the college requires learning across driving, firearms, hand to hand combat - and more. "If your physical condition isn't up to at least the minimum level - invariably, you'll be injured and that'll put more pressure on your learning and it could probably even delay your graduation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise tradies have to get it right when they sign-off their own work under new rules. The Building and Construction Minister has announced a scheme to let approved firms and tradies like plumbers and drainlayers self-approve work on simple residential jobs. Companies deemed reputable could opt-in. Chris Penk says they'll have to undertake a process of promising quality. "And there will be standards, obviously, that they've got to continue to meet, they've got to have the right sorts of assurances and insurance in place as well - so they've got every incentive to get it right." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First and ACT are opposing an Auckland Council plan for the Waitākere Ranges.  The council wants to set up a committee including iwi, the Crown and Auckland Council.  NZ First MP Shane Jones says it could easily morph into co-governance and ACT leader David Seymour claims it could let unelected decision-makers close tracks and dictate land use. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the ball's in National's court on this matter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.