Larry Williams Drive

A new three-level luxury department store is set to open on Auckland's Queen Street next year.  The new store will be located at 131 Queen St and is set to include valet parking and an espresso music bar. Luxury retailer Faradays is behind the $30 million development.  Faradays Co-Founder and Chief Executive Eddie von Dadelszen said to Heather du Plessis-Allan, "the building itself, we're inheriting something truly, truly unique ... it's just an amazing historical embrace to do something contemporary and fresh and modern inside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think I am more interested in seeing how Zoran Mamdani goes than any other Democrat that I can remember in a very, very, very long time, because I genuinely am not sure if this is gonna go brilliantly for him. And he's the next big thing, or he's the next big disappointment, because there is no way, is there? Like, no way at all he's gonna be able to do everything that he's promised. I mean, he might be able to do a rent freeze in New York City. Sure, that's an easy thing to do. That's a stroke of a pen. Off you go. But it might backfire. Like it might lead to fewer housing units being added, which ultimately makes the problem worse. He can pick something else to do. He could do free childcare, hugely expensive. He could add a 2% tax on incomes over $1 million, but he may find those incomes start disappearing from his city. Either way, he's gonna have to pick some of his pet projects and go with just a few of them, because doing absolutely everything is just not gonna happen. And that's gonna lead to disapp

ACT leader David Seymour's controversial school lunch programme is getting a makeover going into it's second year of operation. The changes include catering giant Compass Group no longer providing lunches to primary schools- but they will still provide meals for secondary schools and intermediates.  Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "a subcontractor failed in term one of this year, there was a lot of publicity around that. We fixed it, with the help of Compass, and that's why they continue to supply the bulk of meals." The $3 meal cap is also gone with costs now reaching up to $5 per meal.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has announced to reduce the costs of some weight loss drugs, or as he calls them 'fat shots'. The Trump administration claims that Americans could lose 61 billion kilogrammes combined because of this deal. A US$1 trillion pay package, endorsed by Tesla shareholders, could be headed for Elon Musk . Meanwhile, the Government shutdown, which has now reached 37 days, is leading to flight delays and cancellations at US airports.  Jonathan Kearsley told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "what this is now doing is spreading the pain far beyond federal workers ... straight into American travellers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis announced today that the Government will boost New Zealand's screen rebate for the goal of bringing Hollywood back to New Zealand.  Overseas productions will now be able to claim a 25% rebate on what they spend here, up from 20%, when they invest more than $20 million. Australia currently offers up to 40% while Canada and the UK offer around 30%. Harry Harrison said to Heather du Plessis-Allan, "I wish we were sort of higher, but it allows us to play in the sand pit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan reveals the details of the report into Dame Noeline Taurua. The report includes the complaints from Silver Ferns players which lead to her being stood down in September. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British police have launched a manhunt for two wrongly-freed prisoners, including an Algerian sex offender. London's Metropolitan Police force said in a statement it was looking for the 24-year-old suspect after he was released in error. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this is concerning for the Government, who are on the defence after this incident.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices fell in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, and it's sparked concern for what this means for the dairy sector. This week's 2.4 percent drop  is the sixth consecutive decline for the GDT auction, and follows a 1.4 percent dip two weeks ago. HighGround dairy analyst Stuart Davison explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 China International Import Expo has gotten underway in Shanghai and some familiar Kiwi brands are making an appearance. Fonterra, Zespri, Silver Fern Farms and Comvita are among the big names showcasing their output on the world stage. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Michelin Guide is coming to New Zealand - and it cost Tourism New Zealand over $6 million to get it going. Is this good news for tourism? And is this a worthy investment? Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has raised concerns with the Government's proposed solutions for rough sleepers - and labelled the Government's response 'hysterical'. What do we make of all this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 6th November - Auckland Central MP and Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick tells Heather why she thinks there's "hysteria" around the rough sleeper issue. Police Minister Mark Mitchell reacts to Jevon McSkimming pleading guilty to possessing objectionable material. Famed New Zealand chef Ben Bayly celebrates the Michelin Guide coming to our shores. And the Huddle debates whether taxpayer money should be going to bring Michelin to New Zealand. 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.

How good is this idea of bringing Michelin to New Zealand in the hope that some of our restaurants will get some stars awarded?  Now, this is not free. We have to pay for it and we have to pay actually quite a lot of money for it. It's costing Tourism New Zealand nearly six and a half million dollars, and that's just for the first three years. And I don't know how much you have to pay after that.  But take a look at what the Aussies did when they looked at this  last year. It was going to cost them $4 million for the first year, $5 million for the second year, $7.5 million for the next year, and then basically for a few years thereafter, something like another three years, it was going to cost them another $7.5 million.  By my calculations, in the space of five or six years, they were going to have to fork out to Michelin about $40 million. Aussies looked at it, said, nah, but we've said yes, and I reckon we are doing the right thing.  This is grown-up, first world tourism.  I th

A meeting between battling factions in Te Pāti Māori's closer to being a reality. The party's faced weeks of turmoil and infighting, culminating in party president John Tamihere calling for the resignation of MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris. The party's leadership has agreed to a meeting next week to work through the issues with its MPs. Iwi leaders met with Takuta Ferris today. Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber says Ferris has agreed to attend, but he's yet to hear from Kapa-Kingi. "There's still a glimmer of hope, and that's what we're latching on to. We've asked to bring our huis at the marae, if we can get there before it all falls to bits, that would be the best outcome." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's excitement among Kiwi food experts and hospo giants about what the Michelin Guide's arrival could do for tourism. Tourism New Zealand is investing $6.3 million to bring the guide to New Zealand, and it's estimated 36,000 more international visitors could be drawn in as a result. Executive chef at Ahi and New Zealand Food Story host Ben Bayly says this move will give the nation's food sector more credibility. "Let's face it, gastronomic tourism right now is huge, people are travelling all over the world to eat food - that is their main driver for coming to countries now." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire and Emergency NZ is looking into cutting jobs in a bid to save $50 million a year. It says it's in a tightening financial bind, and a significant restructure is on the cards - with consultation documents set to be sent to staff by next week. NZ Firefighters Union national secretary Wattie Watson says Fire and Emergency has already cut a recruit course set to take place in January. "We've got some real worries there - the recruit course that was being cancelled next year in January, that actually impacts on the normal recruiting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he's pleased former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming's pleaded guilty to having child exploitation and bestiality images on work devices. He admitted to three representative charges in Wellington District Court this afternoon.  Court documents reveal the 52-year-old made thousands of Google searches, many seeking AI-generated or cartoon images. Police Minister Mark Mitchell says this result shows no-one's above the law - but this behaviour reflects poorly on the police.  "For every one officer - and it's a big organisation, so you're always going to have some people that don't uphold the standards. But most of our police officers do, they're out there every day, they're doing tens of thousands of positive acts." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials warn the $200 million set aside to encourage gas exploration may be too small - with production falling and closure of the ageing Māui field looming. The Government's widening the scope and terms of the commercial co-investment fund. BusinessDesk reports a Cabinet paper released today states the field will stop production, with the rest of the sentence redacted. Resources Minister Shane Jones says he isn't privy to when the closure will happen. "We're suffering a decline in the known reserves from those historically large sites and they're working through the process - it's up to them to identify when it will actually cease." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-top cop Jevon McSkimming's admitted to having child exploitation and bestiality images on work devices. The former Deputy Police Commissioner's pleaded guilty to three representative charges of possessing objectionable material in Wellington District Court this afternoon.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked today's verdict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, former drug kingpin Tony Mokbel managed to avoid additional time in prison over a drug trafficking conviction.  Mokbel, one of the key figures in Melbourne’s gangland war, was sentenced to 30 years’ jail after pleading guilty to serious drug-related offences in 2012.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says reports have surfaced accusing his lawyer of corruption, prompting an additional investigation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't expect wholesale changes mid-evening when All Blacks coach Scott Robertson unveils his side to play Scotland. The Kiwi side is set to face off against Scotland this coming Sunday and the team's hoping to keep up the momentum after beating Ireland. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.