Larry Williams Drive

The Finance Minister says it could take 15 years before Defence Force spending reaches a goal set out by the Prime Minister.   Christopher Luxon says he want the Government to get close to spending 2 percent of the country's GDP on defence.  It comes as Chinese naval ships run live firing round practice in the Tasman Sea.    Nicola Willis says it will take quite a few budgets to meet the 2 percent threshold.  "What we're working on is a defence capability plan that sets out what are the big investments we need to make to get our defence force ready - and that will take us out to 2040." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says feedback from the gang-patch crackdown has been mostly positive on all fronts.  More than 300 charges have been filed for breaches since the ban came into force in November.  Police say they've also seized 76 patches.  Commissioner Richard Chambers says the ban is leaving a positive impact thus far. "More importantly, the public is saying that they are actually feeling safer - they aren't experiencing the same intimidation that they had in the past. So I think this has been a good piece of legislation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington bar owner's bewildered he can't hand out pamphlets advertising his bars during O-week.  Victoria University of Wellington's Students Association has complained to the council licensing team. The council has told Greig Wilson they believe licensees must not target students to draw them to bars. Wilson says he's distributed the flyers for years. "The idea is to drive students into the bars before 12 o'clock, where we can better manage intoxication control in a controlled environment and monitor their drinking, rather than them being in a flat in Mount Cook with a bottle of vodka."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready New Zealand, a massive defence budget is going to drop in three months. Judith Collins told the show on Friday the Government wants to get to two percent of GDP. We're currently at 1.1 percent with our spending. We spend almost $5 billion a year on defence. So we're talking about double that - almost $10 billion. Now, Nicola Willis set her spending allowance for new money at $2.4 billion for the next three budgets, excluding savings.  So at that rate, it'd take more than nine years and ALL the extra money available to get to 2 percent.  That would also mean nothing extra for health and education or anything else. So that is quite unlikely. Here's what they should do - come out and say we're getting to two percent within 15 years. They're announcing a 15-year defence plan, so it'd signal plenty of time to scale up. Then there's the why - and on what? The why is easy. America is in retreat mode. China is waiting in the wings. We're in the middle, though down the bottom of this battle. China

The Government has hinted it wants to increase military spending, as geopolitical escalations taking place off the coast prompt concern. Three Chinese Navy ships have been conducting live fire rounds in the Tasman Sea in recent days - and details are coming to light of its new deal with the Cook Islands. Former Defence Minister Andrew Little says China's economy has grown - along with the size of its military.  "We need to make sure that our equipment is modern, up to spec, and works with our defence partners - whether it's Australia, the UK or the US or whoever." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Minister Andrew Bayly says a complaint was laid about him laying a hand on a staffer.  He says it was during a work discussion he's called 'animated' last Tuesday. He's apologised to the staff member, and resigned as ACC and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, but he remains the MP for Port Waikato.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Bayly's got a reputation as an 'interesting' character - but he owned up to his mistake.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to meet with his American counterparts in a bid to get an exemption from US tariffs on steel and aluminium. An announcement from President Donald Trump on whether Australian industries will be granted a tariff exemption is due in the coming weeks. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's a possibility the current trade surplus between the nations will even things out - but it's unclear if Australia will be able to get out of the tariffs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC are the kings of New Zealand football after destroying Wellington 6-1 - and now lead the A-League by eight points. The Wellington Phoenix have since dropped to 11th place. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business owners are being encouraged to work with neighbours to keep small towns 'alive'. Napier City Business general manager Pip Thompson says Napier and Hastings CBDs become ghost towns after 5pm, when stores close. She says 'to stay alive in 2025', trading hours need to no longer be confined to 9-to-5. But Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says a single store can't make the change alone. "If you've got a number of stores around you that are open later, people will come because they know that they can call into that store at a time that suits them after work."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 21 February 2025, Sky News host Andrew Bolt speaks to Ryan Bridge about the Chinese naval ships off the coast of Sydney. Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson defends the decision not to charge or sack a senior police officer who hit his children with a belt. Sky TV boss Sophie Moloney defends the company's handling of the satellite issues and reveals how much has been paid out in compensation. Plus, on the Sports Huddle why does Ryan want more streakers at the rugby this weekend, and what Jim thinks should happen to them. 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.

Germany is heading to the polls this weekend in what could be a major shift at the heart of Europe. Latest opinion polls have suggested a surge in support for right wing and far right parties following terror attacks by asylum seekers and/or migrants. Will a coalition need to include a far right party to operate with a majority? UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Ryan Bridge about the shift, the raids that targeted a £828bn criminal money-laundering network, and a polish woman claiming to be missing girl Madeleine McCann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xi Jinping had a meeting with prominent entrepreneurs this week... what was his message to them?  India is looking to cut import taxes in response to trump's reciprocal tariffs.  And Singapore has announced vouchers and tax breaks to help with rising costs.  Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis joins the show.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats boss has fallen on his sword over the handling of confidential personal data.  Automatic pay rises for public servants under review.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said the government will aim to spend two percent of GDP on defence. Is it doable? LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy company Genesis almost doubled its half year net profit to 70.3 million dollars after tax. Wholesale power prices rose dramatically last winter in response to the dry weather. Shareholders will be happy with that, but its customers might not. Genesis Chief Executive Malcom Johns talks to Ryan Bridge. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave and Journalist Jim Kayes join Ryan Bridge on the Sports Huddle. Super Rugby was off to a fantastic start last week, can we expect the same this weekend? Chiefs take on the Crusaders tonight, while the Blues play the Highlanders tomorrow. What does The Huddle think of tactical subs? Should they be removed from the game? LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour MP Phil Twyford has called for Destiny Church to be taken off the charities register after they targeted the LGBTQ community last weekend. Members of the church barricaded 30 people, including children, into a room during a drag-king event. Charites expert Michael Gousmet clears up confusion around the many Destiny Churches in NZ, and talks to Ryan Bridge about what justifies being deregistered. "What you've got to prove is serious wrongdoing ... the concept of serious wrongdoing is very, very hard to prove." LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An error by the Education Ministry has meant teacher shortages for this year and last were not forecasted. The Ministry is now projecting that schools will be 1250 teachers short between 2025 and 2027. Principals and teachers' unions have had to combine classes and cancel subjects due to the shortage. PPTA President Chris Abercombie talks to Ryan Bridge. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior police officer who hit his children with a belt has been let off the hook with a formal condemnation. The officer admitted to disciplining his teenage child and his other children who are under the age of 10. Why is he still employed?   Ryan Bridge asks Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson that question. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia and New Zealand defence ministers have responded strongly to the Chinese navy ships lurking off the coast of Sydney. What is the Australian government saying? Sky News Host Andrew Bolt talks to Ryan Bridge about what their presence means. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Chinese warships are docked off the coast of Sydney, why? Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper answers that question, discusses Jenny Shipley's comments towards David Seymour, Winston Peters visit to China and the call to deregister Destiny Church as a charity. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.