Larry Williams Drive

The Associate Justice Minister admits some ideas in her Arms Act rewrite didn't make it past the cutting room floor.  She's revealed details of changes to the 1983 Act - delivered under an ACT-National coalition agreement. It doesn't include Nicole McKee's bid to allow greater access to military-style semi-automatic weapons. She says she's also not ruling out scrapping the gun registry, which she didn't get this time. "I haven't changed my mind on the gun registry - I still want to scrap it, but I did not win the argument. Hence, we had to agree to disagree with the coalition partnership." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has responded to Winston Peters' fears over potential asset sales. Chris Luxon has ruled them out this term, but is again suggesting it needs discussion. Meanwhile, the NZ First leader has told RNZ it's a silly argument - and claimed the party will stop the country's assets from being sold. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the discussions further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concern and outrage in Australia after a group of Neo-Nazis held a demonstration outside NSW Parliament. NSW police estimate about 60 black-clad men stood in formation outside the building's Macquarie Street gates, displaying banners and chanting antisemitic slogans. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the group is trying to find a way into Parliament, prompting concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry is poised to act on a key election platform, by introducing a blanket ban on transgender women from female categories across all sports. At this stage, an announcement is set for next year. The IOC has previously left sex eligibility regulations to the governing bodies of individual codes, rather than applying a universal approach. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has revealed more details about new road safety measures.  From December, police in Wellington will do random roadside saliva tests - screening for cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine.  Drivers coming back positive will need to do a second test that checks for 25 substances.  Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the swab could detect drug use several hours beforehand.  "I think it picks up recent usage, so a week or so ago - no. But if you smoked up the night before and you're out on the road in the morning, then it will pick it up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned over the way a documentary on Donald Trump was edited. It comes after the Telegraph published details of a leaked internal BBC memo, suggesting Panorama edited two parts of Trump's speech together so he appeared to explicitly encourage the Capitol riots of January 2021. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's been a 'difficult day' for the company, but Trump celebrated this outcome on Truth Social. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are being encouraged to plan ahead as talks of an India-New Zealand trade deal continue. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says both regions are making progress on a new trade agreement, as Trade Minister Todd McClay holds talks with his Indian counterpart. India New Zealand Business Council chair Edwin Paul says discussions indicate it's likely we'll get an FTA by early 2026. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 10 November 2025, the Maori Party has expelled two of its own MPs in the latest episode of the party's implosion. Former leader Te Ururoa Flavell speculates where this will go next. ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson defends the company's huge $2.5 billion profit - a 21% rise! Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne reacts to news that New Zealand has suspended $30 million dollars in funding over its diplomatic spat with the Cooks. Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks bank profits and asset sales. The Huddle debates the future of the Maori Party and the Cooks. Plus, how producer Antz found out he was owed $400 dollars ... and you might be too! 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.

Well, at least someone's resigned at the BBC.  In fact, two have resigned, both the director general and the boss of news - and the fact that this bias scandal at the BBC has claimed two of the most senior executives there tells you how serious it is. And it's not just serious for the BBC, it's serious for basically all the mainstream media outlets in the English-speaking world. Because even though the rest of us didn't splice together two pieces of what Donald Trump said to make it sound like he was encouraging his followers to take a fight to the capital, and even though the rest of us didn't hire the son of a Hamas official to voice a documentary about Gaza, many of us take the BBC's content, don't we? Often unchecked. There are some media organizations out there that are so beyond reproach that other media outlets - like ourselves - will take their content and not re-verify it, because it's the BBC and we shouldn't have to re-verify it. And if they're infected by bias, we all become infected by

Rocket Lab is set to unveil their results for Q3, and it's prompted speculation from experts. The company's seen some growth and shares have gone up, but concerns have still been raised. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson-Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed funding will still be withheld from the Cook Islands off the back of their China partnership. Is this the right tactic? Should we go further and threaten withdrawing citizenship rights? ANZ has announced a significant profit boost today - should we be concerned? Or is this just business? Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi have been expelled from Te Pāti Māori after weeks of political infighting. Is this the end of the drama?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has indicated trade talks with India are progressing well - and speculation claims both nations could have a trade deal by next year. Trade Minister Todd McClay has been hosting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Auckland for a fifth round of talks on a trade deal. Finance Minister Nicola Willis won't disclose too much, but she says good progress is being made. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Cook Islands politician says public pressure is mounting for its Government to mend its rift with New Zealand.  The Foreign Minister has paused almost $30 million dollars in funding.  Winston Peters says Prime Minister Mark Brown didn't properly consult New Zealand before signing a strategic deal with China in February. Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne says she can't understand why Brown isn't listening. "We've got an interim Foreign Affairs Secretary, and it sounds like, supposedly, negotiations that were supposed to be happening with New Zealand may not have happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's strong demand for water cremations, just months after the service first became available in New Zealand. Since opening in June, the Christchurch Crematorium has carried out 55 water cremations - using an alkaline solution to mimic the natural burial process. Around 80 percent of their clients choose cremation - most opting for the water-based option. Christchurch Water Crematorium co-director Andrew Bell says the water-based service sits better with customers, largely due to the environmental benefits. "We weren't expecting the response, to be honest, that we had from it. 75 percent straight away was a bit more than we were expecting."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sense the fall-out isn't over, after Te Pāti Māori's National Council has ejected two MPs from the party. Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi are calling it unconstitutional, and will sit as independents in Parliament for now. It's after weeks of party in-fighting playing out in public. The party's co-leaders say they haven't considered invoking the waka-jumping law, but didn't rule it out.   Former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says that seems to be the leadership's intention. "I still think there's a little bit of water to go under the bridge as yet - I understand there may well be some sort of legal challenges to process." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rainfall today at Tongariro National Park has helped dampen the fire that's rampaged across nearly 3000 hectares since Saturday.  Fire and Emergency says a flyover his afternoon's revealed no signs of live fire. Crews will use thermal imaging to detect hotspots tonight - which they'll target tomorrow.  Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton says they'll investigate what caused the fire.  He says hundreds of hectares will need to be restored - but most areas damaged had little public access.  "Organised tracks will be open to the public as soon as we get that 7 days lifted...and when it's safe to do so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders won't share why their National Council decided to expel Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. The Council met last night to decide on the two MPs' fate.  The expulsion comes after weeks of public sparring between the pair and Party President John Tamihere. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian radio legend John Laws has died. The 90-year-old affectionately dubbed 'Golden Tonsils' died in Sydney, after being hospitalised last month. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson looked back on his radio legacy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $2.5 billion dollar boost for our largest bank. ANZ New Zealand's announced a 21 percent increase in its annual profit. It's largely down to a good year for the bank's hedging - investments designed to offset financial risks. Chief Executive Antonia Watson says the bank also grew its balance sheet, and adjusted funds set aside for covering unpaid loans.  "In a sign of green shoots, we've actually released some of the credit provisions that we took in previous years." Westpac has had a 13 percent profit increase - and BNZ's had no change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 7 November. 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.