Larry Williams Drive

Banks are clearing a backlog of lending requests after 'unacceptable' delays of up to five weeks, which caused stress for borrowers before Christmas.   A significant drop in interest rates late last year resulted in a surge of new home loan applications and refinancing and restructuring requests, according to mortgage brokers.   Loan market advisor Michelle Isemonger says the weeks before Christmas are always a busy time - but December's OCR drop inspired this notable increase in applications. 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!  Two new polls are out - and they show that the left bloc has overtaken the coalition and could form a new Government if an election was held tomorrow. Should the current Government be concerned - or is this too far away to worry about? Do we need to be worried about a bigger diplomatic mess with the Cook Islands? What could this meeting with China mean? A prospective homeowner lost out in a disputed auction bid - and is taking legal action against the real estate firm. Can we agree auctions are the worst? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 10 February 2025, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop talks about the 100 global investors the Government's inviting to put their money into NZ projects. Act leader David Seymour defends the decision to write to police about their treatment of Auckland eye-surgeon Philip Polkinghorne - and why he drove up the stairs of Parliament in a Land Rover. Variety executive music editor Jem Aswad speaks to Ryan about this year's Super Bowl bonanza. Plus, the Huddle debates why the left bloc is dominating the polls - and whether voters really want a Labour-led Government again. 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.

Two new polls show a shift in the political mood - but National's Nicola Willis isn't too worried about these results. Both the Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll and the 1 News Verian poll - out today - show Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori would have the seats to form a Government. Both also have Chris Luxon losing support in the preferred Prime Minister stakes. But Willis says polls move around - pointing out that there are differences between today's two. "Overall, the message that I'm hearing very loudly from New Zealand is - they've been though a tough time economically and they really want to see us focused on making them and their family feel more financially secure, and that's what we're doing."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is cautiously optimistic a new poll might spell trouble for the coalition. The Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll earlier today showed it could not form a Government - pushed by drops in support to ACT and NZ First.  Leader Chris Hipkins says it shows the country's heading in the wrong direction. "We know we've got a lot of work to do - we've still got a year and a half to go, so polls at this point are interesting. And it's nice to be doing well in them and we've still got a fair amount of water to flow under the bridge." Chris Luxon's taken a hit - down 3.8 points in preferred Prime Minister rankings to 20.7 percent - while the Labour's Hipkins rose 2.3 points to 17.6 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government could be willing to let more foreign investors into a summit it announced today, as demand exceeds spaces. The Prime Minister's announced the two-day event in March - designed to encourage foreign investment in New Zealand projects and industries.  Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says the Government funded, 100-person, invite-only event is already over-subscribed. He says the focus is inviting the highest value investments and global leaders in infrastructure.  "We're not going to have a thousand people, but what we are trying to do is get high-value investment into New Zealand. We want jobs and growth, and there's a huge degree of interest from around the world in it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off the back of a successful Grammy Awards sweep, rapper Kendrick Lamar played his Super Bowl half time show today. Lamar's performance happened in the midst of an ongoing defamation suit over his song Not Like Us - with Lamar getting in plenty of digs in at Drake before he performed the track. The performance also featured special appearances by Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams and SZA. Variety executive music editor Jem Aswad says Lamar had to omit an infamous line from Not Like Us to avoid further legal action. "But he did all the rest of it, and he referenced it, he said something like - 'I want to play their favourite song but they always sue'. And at the end - not everybody noticed this - but in the audience with the light up wristbands, a bunch of fans were seated so it spelled: Game Over. Which it kind of is."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is playing down criticism after he drove a 77-year-old Land Rover up the front steps of Parliament.  Parliamentary security stopped the ACT leader before he got further than a few stairs. Seymour says it was just a bit of fun and he was doing it for charity - to raise money for children's heart disease. "I think if the people from 1948 were around, they'd be astonished that I got to talk on the wireless for doing this rather mundane act." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled its first quarterly action plan for 2025, with a focus on growth and expanding the economy. A two-day international investment summit next month is one of 40 actions in the plan, with Luxon saying he wants to encourage more investment in New Zealand. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains what projects might draw potential investors into this country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian voters in the outer-western suburban state seat of Werribee have voiced their feedback in this weekend's by-election - and they're not too happy with Labor's output. Labor had held the state seat of Werribee since 1973, but this time, both major parties received less than 30 percent of the first-preference vote.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this paints a concerning picture for Labor ahead of the upcoming federal election - as Albanese could lose seats in Victoria. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been rising about a possible diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. A couple of weeks ago, Foreign Minister Winston Peters publicly admonished the President of Kiribati for refusing to engage - and diplomatic aid was put under review. Peters also recently released a harsh statement directed at Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown as Brown prepares to sign a deal in China this week - a deal New Zealand hasn't been consulted about. Massey University's Anna Powles says these incidents are 'unusual' and don't reflect the diplomatic engagement between both nations. "It certainly doesn't reflect the type of more sensitive diplomatic engagement that we're used to New Zealand conducting in the region." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Philadelphia Eagles have dashed the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of a three-peat, with a dominant 40-22 win. Quarterback Jalen Hurts scored three touchdowns - two passing and one rushing score. The win comes after the Eagles' last Super Bowl appearance two years ago, where they lost to the Chiefs. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recaps the game. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 7 February 2025, Health New Zealand Chief Executive Margie Apa calls it quits before her term is up - Health Commentator Ian Powell talks about what's gone wrong at the top level?  Three vehicles have failed to stop after hitting a person on an Auckland motorway overnight... we ask why people are fleeing accidents? Cam Mitchell Athletics CEO discuss the return of the 'mile' running event for the Commonwealth Games 2026. Plus, the Sports Huddle on why Caleb Clarke has pulled out of Super Rugby Fantasy. 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.

Sky City says a February opening date for its International Convention Centre is prudent.  The Centre was initially planned to open in 2020, but a major roof fire in 2019 - followed by the Covid-19 pandemic - set the project back substantially.  Fletcher Building will now hand it over in June.  Chief Operating Officer Callum Mallett says the next stage of commissioning and operational work will take several months.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medal events for the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been announced - and there's a surprising change to a popular race.  The 1,500 metre race will be replaced by a returning event - the Commonwealth Mile.  The Mile was last run in 1966, where New Zealand had two athletes compete.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three drivers who fatally hit a man walking on Auckland's South-Western Motorway are being urged to come forward.  Not one stopped, despite striking the man after he entered the northbound Dominion Road offramp about 1:30am.  Former Police Detective Lance Burdett says it's highly unusual to have three vehicles not stopping.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationship issues and organisational structure are thought to be contributing factors to Health NZ CEO Margie Apa's resignation.  She's left the job six months early - saying a different leadership approach is needed.  Health commentator Ian Powell says Apa's relationship with Health Commissioner Lester Levy was untenable.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BussinessDesk reports sources say supply issues meant the country got down to its last 50 rounds of artillery ammunition. NZDF is adamant it has the stock it needs - but isn't answering whether supplies got so diminished.  Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says if stocks get too low, training stops. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week another police officer was struck by a vehicle, this time in Huntly. The officer suffered moderate injuries.  It comes after the horrible New Year's Day incident in which Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was killed and another officer injured after being struck by a vehicle in Nelson.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell said on the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning, Police and first responders are increasingly dealing with violence. Not just here in New Zealand, but globally as well.  It's good to hear Mitchell, alongside Paul Goldsmith, is planning to bring new legislation into the house in the first quarter of this year to bring in tougher sentencing for violent behaviour towards first responders and prison officers.  It would have been better if it had been included in Goldsmith's sentencing reforms, which had its first reading in Parliament last September.  Those reforms too are to ensure criminals face tougher consequences and victims are prioritised.  This new legislation

A mass shooting in Sweden has left 11 dead, with many more still in hospital after the attack. A gunman opened fire at an adult education centre in the city of Örebro, west of Stockholm - and police have yet to discover any links to gangs or organised crime. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the suspected assailant was among the dead, and investigations are still ongoing into a motive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.