Larry Williams Drive

The Government is looking to shake up how builders can meet insulation standards for new homes in a bid to reduce building costs. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has proposed several new changes - with a consultation period set to take place until February. New Zealand Certified Builders Association CEO Malcolm Fleming says this shows the Government is taking industry opinions into account. 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! The Government plans to inject more capital into Kiwibank in a bid to beef up competition among the banks off the back of a new Commerce Commission report. Will this work? Two new polls out tonight - and they're not looking too great for National or Labour. How can they turn their luck around? Businesses across Auckland have hit out at Auckland Transport over their 'bus to the mall' Christmas campaign. Is this a bad look for AT?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 December 2024, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announces how she'll inject $500 million into Kiwibank to boost banking competition. Former US ambassador to Syria Robert Ford speaks about the latest situation in Syria after Assad's fled to Russia. Plus, The Huddle debates whether AT has lost all its marbles after telling people to catch the bus to the mall. 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.

The Finance Minister is determined to ensure New Zealanders get access to more competitive banking services. A Commerce Commission report on banking has found the sector isn't competitive enough - and the Government is looking to make some changes. Nicola Willis says she doesn't want to threaten the banks, but she's hoping for better results for Kiwis. "That means fairer prices, that means more innovative services, that means a better range of services. And what the Commerce Commission - and others - have said is that we lack robust competition in our banking sector." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police have missed out on a $6 million funding incentive for failing to issue enough speeding tickets.  The Transport Minister promised earlier in the year that police could expect to receive $72 million as part of their funding from NZTA - if certain road policing targets were met.  AA Road Safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen says police managed to exceed alcohol testing targets this quarter - which the association is pleased to see. "Really, this is just part of a huge push from the Government here to increase the amount of enforcement around alcohol and drugs and speeding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TAB's boss is applauding Government moves to extend its monopoly. Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced plans for legislation to ensure the TAB can be the sole online provider of sports and race betting - as well as in person. Peters has expressed concerns about overseas betting sites. TAB chief executive Nick Roberts says bringing it back to New Zealand will grow revenue and funding. "It enables the support and growth of racing and sport in New Zealand - which is really what we're about here at TAB New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's beefing up Kiwibank - at the request of the Commerce Commission. Its report on banking has found the sector isn't competitive enough, and offered up 14 recommendations. Simplicity co-founder Sam Stubbs says the banks would be foolish to ignore Government warnings. He says the Prime Minister's telling the banks - the game is up. "Remember, the only person that can seriously do damage to the big banks in New Zealand is the Government, because they've got regulation powers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former US Ambassador to Syria says the collapse of the more-than-50-year Assad Regime in Syria is a happy coincidence for the US.  Leader Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus for political asylum in Moscow.  US President Joe Biden's called it a 'historic opportunity' to build a better future.  Former ambassador Robert Ford says Biden shouldn't take credit - and Assad's control of major cities was very brittle.  "When pushed - that is, to say, when a serious armed opposition attack came - his soldiers didn't stand and fight. Instead, they ran away." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's helping boost competition in banking by bolstering Kiwibank.  The Commerce Commission recently painted the banking landscape as an oligopoly in a review - pointing to the domination by the big four Australian players.  Today, Prime Minister Chris Luxon's announced he wants to implement all its 14 recommendations and disrupt the status quo.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this boost won't make Kiwibank an equal to the big four in Australia - but a cash boost is good for consumers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, new polls paint a grim picture for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A national Newspoll reveals Albanese's approval rating had dropped to 44 percent, with Peter Dutton's rating surging to 60 percent. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says these results make a hung parliament seem more and more likely ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debate is building as to whether Tim Southee will play a 107th and final valedictory test in the dead rubber match at Hamilton this week. New Zealand are 2-nil down in the three-match series against England. Sportstalk host Jason Pine weighed up the odds ahead of the match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Transport has been forced to scale back its 'bus to the mall' campaign after facing pushback from local business owners. The campaign included a singing bus stop in Newmarket - but more controversially, billsticker posters placed throughout Auckland’s small retail villages. Karangahape Road business owner Muy Chhour says this campaign is a 'kick in the guts' to local business owners in Auckland. "It's not good at all - it tarnishes the relationships with business districts and Auckland Transport. It takes away the customers from local businesses and takes them to the mall." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The judiciary think that they are the ones writing laws, and they can just ignore what parliament wants, and they can call all the shots, and they act like parliament is full of a bunch of idiots and we need to be saved from them. The court of appeal decision was only one of the examples of this.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports Commentator Andrew Gourdie and Sports Journalist and Commentator Lavina Good join Heather for The Huddle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're looking at the headlines about the boot camp trial today - these kids running away and one of them dying in a car crash, and your immediate reaction to this is to think that this is a complete shambles, then I reckon you are looking at this the wrong way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC will host the Wellington Phoenix in front of a sold-out Mt Smart stadium tomorrow afternoon. The home team remain unbeaten. Wellington Phoenix Head Coach Giancarlo Italiano talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan ahead of the match. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open banking firm ‘Revolut’ has applied to become a registered bank in New Zealand. Revolut already offers a “one stop-shop" money management app here with payment, card and money management services. It says with a banking license it could further offer things like credit cards, consumer loans and mortgages.   Massey University Banking Expert Claire Matthews joins the show. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 6 December 2024, two people have absconded from the Governments new bootcamps - Act Party Leader David Seymour reacts to Labours call to shut the program down. Secondary Principals Association Vaughan Couillault talks about more disappointing NCEA results - with only 55% of students passing the compulsory numeracy tests.  Plus, Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano previews the sold out derby at Mt Smart Stadium.  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.

South Korean Lawmakers Move To Impeach President Yoon  South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol hours after thwarting his shock move on Tuesday to impose martial law. This has triggered the country’s worst constitutional crisis in decades. The president had said martial law was needed to protect the country from "North Korea's communist forces" and to "eliminate anti-state elements” and “normalise the country”. The order was unanimously rejected by the opposition-controlled legislature. Chinese Exporters Front-Load Shipments To Dodge Trump Tariffs Exporters from China, Canada and Mexico are seeking to front-load shipments to the US after president-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose new levies on goods from the three countries on his first day in office. At a giant supply chain expo in Beijing last week, logistics company representatives said the number of customers asking about bringing forward shipments had increased following Trump’s threat to impose an ex

French President Emmanuel Macron makes a national tv address after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote. The presidency says Barnier will remain in office on a caretaker basis with his ministers until a new government was appointed. But will anyone want the job seemed doomed to failure over cost-cutting tax-rising aims? Cash use in UK shops rose for a second year in a row after a decade of falls. According to retailers notes and coins were used in a fifth of transactions last year, as shoppers found cash helped them to budget better. The amount spent per purchase dropped slightly. Prince Harry said his life in the US is what his mother Princess Diana would have "wanted" for him. He added his family were able to access a degree of privacy and freedom they "undoubtedly wouldn't be able to do in the UK" due to concerns around security. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey joins the show. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.