Larry Williams Drive

Growing demand for burger meat has super-charged New Zealand's exports to the United States. The US has recently overtaken Australia as New Zealand’s second-largest export market last year, according to new Stats NZ data. ANZ economist Henry Russell says this is good news for New Zealand's beef industry, which has been hit hard by decreased demand from China. "The US market has actually overtaken China for meat exports in the past year, so that's a very positive story in the sense that we've been able to pivot away from that market." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Sophie Pascoe believes the time is right to hang up her swimming cap and goggles. The 32-year-old is retiring as New Zealand's greatest-ever Paralympian, having won 11 gold medals since her first Games in Beijing in 2008. She says she had to take a step back from the sport after welcoming her first son - and she's keen to carry on with her next venture. "It just really felt comfortable for me knowing that I was still there with my son and my family and we were still a family unit - so that definitely helped, I definitely had time over this break to really make a decision around this next four-year cycle."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party has been quick to criticise their political rivals over recent objectionable comments in the House. NZ First's Shane Jones yelled 'send the Mexicans home' during a debate - and has since refused to apologise - while Winston Peters has also copped some backlash for claiming foreign-born MPs were trying to impose foreign ideas upon Parliament. Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March says Prime Minister Chris Luxon needs to hold these MPs to account and ensure similar incidents don't happen again. "When politicians and people in positions of power make these comments, it emboldens those people outside of Parliament to hurl racist vitriol and abuse to migrant communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Minister says saving Barnados' helpline for under-12s was a mutual decision reached with the Prime Minister.  The 0800 What's Up support line and multiple other services were at risk of closure after the Government directed Oranga Tamariki to find savings last year.  Now, Minister Karen Chhour has pressed pause on Oranga Tamariki reviewing such contracts.  She says she didn't act because Chris Luxon became involved - but because the agency contacted her with concerns.   "I'm glad they reached out, that's what I've been asking agencies to do over the last year - if you have a concern about something, reach out to me and I'll look into it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says he hasn't spoken to two Cabinet ministers over recent remarks that were labelled racist and xenophobic.  In the House, Shane Jones yelled 'send the Mexicans home' and Winston Peters told Green MPs they'd come with ideas 'foreign to our country' and suggested they show New Zealand some gratitude. Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez-March, who is Mexican, says the Prime Minister should call out such language.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Prime Minister Luxon claimed the comments 'weren't what he would say'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's discourse erupting in Sydney after a delay in publicising the discovery of a caravan full of explosives. A Dural resident made the discovery 10 days ago, along with a note listing Jewish targets.  Opposition leader Peter Dutton believes Australia's Government should've released details immediately. But NSW Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson says investigations have now been compromised, and police need to re-position the investigation. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says inquiries are still ongoing amid a string in anti-Semitic incidents. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Lisa Carrington's decision to commit to a fifth Olympic campaign has been met with elation at Canoe Racing New Zealand. It's been confirmed the eight-time gold medallist intends to be on the water at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this announcement further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are warning things are set to get 'very scary' for New Zealand's coffee and café industry. Global supply chain disruptions and worsening climate conditions have been driving up production costs - and one leading presence in the coffee world warns that these costs will be passed on to businesses. New reports show the average green coffee price had lifted from $3.76 a kilogram in 2020 to $10.18 a kilogram in 2024 and was at $13.97 so far in January. Richard Corney, the managing director of Flight Coffee, says consumers will need to be prepared to cover these costs. "We're looking at some pretty significant reductions in growth margins or operating profit for coffee roasters, and the fact of the matter is - they cannot afford to wear those costs and they will need to pass them on."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is looking to 'fight for growth' and expand the resources dedicating to funding major airports. British finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to throw her support behind the expansion of Heathrow Airport in a bid to boost the economy.  UK correspondent Gail Downey explained what else people could expect ahead of the incoming update.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, tech stocks have picked up again after a 3 percent selloff after Chinese startup DeepSeek caused a storm in the AI industry. The stocks took a dive earlier in the week after DeepSeek stunned the tech world by revealing it could compete with US counterparts at a fraction of the cost. Milford Asset Management's Andrew Curtayne explains what this means for the wider world of AI. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank switching surged in December, as those with mortgages appear to have shopped around for cheaper debt at a record rate. Just over $2 billion of mortgage debt changed hands between banks and non-banks during the month - a record amount since at least 2017 when Reserve Bank records began. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Government is set to bump up some of the speed limits that were reduced under their Labour predecessors. Is this a good call?  What do we make of the newest White House Press Secretary? A true Gen Z - she's looking to open the press credentials to bloggers, podcasters and even influencers. What do we think? It's been a big week in Parliament, with one Te Pati Māori MP accusing Karen Chhour of not understanding the 'essence of being Maori'. How bad does this look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have moved their Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight. The clock symbolically illustrates how close humanity is to the end of the world. Canterbury University professor Jack Heinemann says escalating global tensions have increased the threat of nuclear war - and lack of action on climate change has raised concerns too. "What they've drawn particular attention to this year is the uncontrolled possibility of further disruptions to our biological ecosystems - not just through the spontaneous occurrence of a new kind of pathogen... but also because we are developing, very rapidly, our use of gene technology." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 29 January 2025, will higher speed limits make our roads unsafer? Ryan Bridge asks Transport Minister Chris Bishop if more road deaths as a result would be acceptable. Failing health infrastructure is at a crunch point, Auckland Hospital's main building, including the maternity ward, is without running water tonight. Taupo mayor Tania Tapsell hits back at anyone who's suggesting police has been unfairly targeting the homeless community with its crackdown on trolley thieves. Plus, the Huddle's hot take on Donald Trump's new Gen Z press secretary.   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.

Fonterra is investing $150 million into electrification over the next 18 months. The collective says the projects across the North Island are a significant step towards its climate goals and operational resilience.  It includes electric boilers at the Whareroa, Edgecumbe, and Waitoa sites - and more fleet decarbonisation.  Fonterra's Director of Global Engineering, Chris Kane, says the rising costs of gas and carbon made it an opportune time to make the switch.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patients in Auckland City Hospital's main building are without hot water. An issue with pipes emerged yesterday afternoon - and will take up to three days to fix.  Te Whatu Ora says it has contingency plans ensuring clinical care continues.   Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland says the maternity ward's in that building.  "They're going to have to be transported away from the maternity ward to another part of Auckland Hospital in order to have a shower - that's certainly not ideal for mothers who have just given birth." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A third major exhibition at Wellington's $180 million convention centre has failed to break even. The City Council is refusing to quantify the deficit for the Doctor Who event, which ran from last June to October. It also won't release specific visitor numbers, citing commercial sensitivity. Councillor Diane Calvert says ratepayers have a right to know the exhibition's actual cost against the budget. "Because if we don't deal with this openly, how can we look for improvements and how can we action those improvements that I'm sure we can do?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's mayor says cracking down on illegal trolley use is not an attack on homeless people. Police launched Operation Trolley last week, after complaints homeless people with shopping carts were intimidating the public. Officers arrested 13 people, gave out 19 trespass notices and returned 45 trolleys to stores. Te Pati Māori has called it an attack on impoverished people, but mayor Tania Tapsell says that's ridiculous.  "We are incredibly grateful for the police actioning this - and we've tried a lot as a council. By the way, that cost us $5000 per month when we were trying to fix it up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More roads could get faster - beyond the Government's planned changes to speed limits on 38 sections of road. The Government is reversing speed limit reductions on those stretches by July, with work set to start tonight. The Prime Minister believes it'll help people get to jobs faster, pushing economic growth. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says 49 roads deemed 'more complicated' will be consulted on. "There are some nasty sections of those roads - we're going to consult on them and it may be that NZTA says the default will go back up to 100, for example, but there will be bits where we keep the speed limit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Te Pāti Māori MP is under fire after questioning the Children's Minister's Māori identity. Mariameno Kapa-Kingi made the remark to Karen Chhour in a Select Committee meeting this morning during heated discussion of boot camps, youth offending, and removing Treaty provisions from the Oranga Tamariki Act. Kapa-Kingi claimed Chhour had 'knowledge gaps' and didn't understand the essence of being Māori. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says David Seymour has been quick to lambast Te Pāti Māori over these comments. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.