Larry Williams Drive

President Donald Trump is threatening Europe with a 200 percent tariff on alcohol. The warning comes as an attempt to have the EU remove a tariff held on whiskey. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson talks to Ryan Bridge about the latest tariff threat, why Trump’s heading to the Supreme Court, and the Americans that think they can beat a grizzly bear in a fight. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol affected patients are wreaking havoc on emergency departments, a recent Trans-Tasman study finds. Almost every staff member who took part in the survey has been abused by a drunk patient. 97% experienced verbal aggression, while 92% experienced physical aggression. Christchurch Hospital ED specialist and co-author of the study talks to Ryan Bridge about the staggering reports, if the situation is getting worse, and how severely the statistics are affecting entry into the industry. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party is encouraging foreign investments, but with a few conditions. They want no ownership or operation of hospitals, prisons, schools, or critical infrastructure. Meanwhile the Public Service Association is warning New Zealanders will lose their jobs due to Private Public Partnerships. Labour Party finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds talks to Ryan Bridge about foreign investments, how they're honouring the treaty, where Labour stands on fast-tracking, LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness is facing a crackdown in New Plymouth as people sleeping rough are breaching bylaws, the district council says.  Rough sleepers have been told to remove their belongings from footpaths.  The district's emergency shelter closed in 2023.  New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom talks to Ryan Bridge about whether the order is heavy handed, the number of rough sleepers in the district, and what responsibility local government has for the issue.   LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Trump has accused Ireland of stealing the US pharmaceutical industry and the tax revenue that he believes should have been paid to the US. Irish premier Micheál Martin recently paid a visit to the White House to meet with Trump. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained that Ireland’s historical low-tax policies have helped lure many US companies over - and the nation would collapse without the extra support. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla's share price has taken a dive in recent months. Donald Trump's ascension to the US Presidency initially helped boost the share price, but it's since dropped by 50 percent. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 13 March 2025, investors are stoked with what they've been hearing at the Government's big investment summit. Doctors are raising alarm bells over the Government's changed approach to funding bowel cancer screening. Plus, Nelson mayor Nick Smith makes the case for voting booths to be installed for local government elections.   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.

Southern farmers are in a flap about wild ducks, calling for the mallard breed to be designated pests so they can be killed throughout the year. Southland’s Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said an explosion of ducks is causing big problems as they are munching through crops. Herrick said farmers asked the local Fish and Game for permission to cull the problem ducks but were turned down and told they could only shoot to scare them. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks this latest stoush. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, AUT chancellor Rob Campbell and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is it time to change how we vote in local elections? Kiwi mayors are pushing for an end to postal voting? Do we think we need a change?  The Royal Australasian College of Physicians is warning that the changes to the free bowel screening programme aren't based on good evidence - and put Māori and Pacific lives at risk. What do we make of this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of people leaving the country long-term hit another new record in the year to January - but monthly data suggests the brain drain has peaked. Stats NZ provisional data for the January 2025 year (compared with January 2024) showed migrant departures up 18 percent to 122,800, the highest on record for an annual period. Migrant arrivals, at 155,300 were down, 31 percent for the year. NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann, explains what this means for the New Zealand economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors are keen to see a long term pipeline of work - before committing to spending their money here.  More than a hundred companies, managing about six trillion in capital, are at the Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit in Auckland. Brett Shepherd from Craigs Investment Partners says the Government's messages of support were well-received by the summit's attendees. "The commitment of the Prime Minister and the respective ministers to grow the economy on a consistent basis through partnership and infrastructure - that message was just resounding."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's increasing suggestions turnout in local body elections would improve with a move to in-person voting. Local Government New Zealand wants postal voting scrapped in local elections - and replaced with polling places and ballot boxes. Nelson mayor Nick Smith is behind the calls and says less and less people have access to mail boxes than ever - resulting in less people having their voices heard. "That is negatively impacting on people being part of our local elections - and the real problem is for mayors or councils to be able to speak to their communities when you've got well less than half the people voting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest season of Married At First Sight Australia has been plagued by scandals on and off the screen - and now a regulatory body has launched a wider investigation. SafeWork NSW is investigating Channel 9 and production company Endemol Shine, generating uncertainty over the future of the series. Entertainment reporter Karl Puschmann says this investigation follows an incident where one of the grooms allegedly punched a wall in frustration - prompting safety concerns for the impacted cast members. "By all the accounts that have been on the show, it does sound pretty serious - you can't go around punching walls just because you're a little bit upset about something. And the show's response hasn't been particularly great either."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Physicians are coming down hard on the Government's evidence being used to prop up their changes to bowel cancer funding.  Last week, the Government announced it will scrap a programme lowering the screening age for Māori and Pacific people, decreasing the age to 58 for everyone instead. Royal Australasian College of Physicians's Dr Matt Wheeler says the claim that bowel cancer risk is similar across all groups at the same age isn't true. "The actual peak age of diagnosis is earlier in Māori than non-Māori. That was why the original screening programme had bowel screenings down to the age of 50." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister in charge of the Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit says deals will mostly be done in the coming weeks, months and years ahead. More than a hundred companies, managing about six trillion dollars in capital, are at the Government's two day summit in Auckland. But Chris Bishop says there's already been one tangible commitment from Australian investor Plenary group. "They've promised to set up a New Zealand office here and they've promised to bid on the next five PPP opportunities that come up - that is a commitment that they have just made, I think, in the last 24 hours, on the basis of what they heard at the summit and in the leadup to it. So that's good." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Jacinda Ardern is releasing her first children's book, called 'Mum's Busy Work'. The former Prime Minister says it's told through the eyes of a child, based off things her daughter Neve said to her when she was in the top job. It will be released in September, with $3 from every copy sold going to The Kindness Collective. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper offered his thoughts ahead of the book's release. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Westpac's head is urging people to stop complaining over the new tariffs set out by the Trump administration. The US President has recently confirmed Australia won't be exempt from new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports going forward. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's likely Australia will face more tariffs in the coming days - and experts are suggesting Australia should shift focus to the Asia-Pacific region.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues are prepared to spend around a month of Super Rugby without Beauden Barrett. Barrett will certainly miss the next two games against the Chiefs and Crusaders with a broken hand, with coach Vern Cotter hopeful he might be available after those two fixtures. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave outlines his predictions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's widespread uncertainty among developers after a Department of Conservation wildlife permit was deemed unlawful.  The High Court in Wellington made the decision over the Transport Agency having permission to inadvertently kill protected wildlife at the Mt Messenger project site.  The decision broadly means nothing can be killed unless it has a disease, there is overpopulation - or something similar.  Simpson Grierson partner Sally McKechnie says some permits may now be invalid.  "It's a case by case basis that will depend on the given permit - but we've got clients, we know we've got colleague firms around town that have clients trying to work exactly that out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports reveal the UK had been working behind the scenes in helping the US and Ukraine to reach an agreement over a proposed ceasefire deal with Russia.  Ukrainian President Zelensky has confirmed he's ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia - but he says it's up to the US to get Russia on board.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's been efforts by the UK to get Ukraine and the US back on good terms again, and we're starting to see the results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.