Larry Williams Drive

The Government's bootcamp trial is under the microscope with news that one of the kids has died in a car crash and two have run away after attending his tangi. Labour are now calling on the bootcamps to be shut down entirely. ACT Party leader David Seymour has been an advocate for the camps and joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss what this means for them. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Christchurch man has complained about homophobia after a bar repeatedly refused to let him in because of his ‘man bag’. The man says the Rockpool Bar’s policy to not allow male patrons to bring bags in is homophobic. The bar’s owner says the ban is in place to stop people hiding weapons in their bags. Steve Armitage is Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive and joins the show to discuss this. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Final results indicate that barely half the teenagers who tried to pass the critical NCEA literacy and numeracy benchmark via online tests this year have succeeded. Only 55% of students have passed the compulsory numeracy NCEA entrance test. 66% of students passed the writing test and 70% passed the reading test. Vaughan Couillault is the Secondary Principals Association President and joins the show. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S Correspondent Dan Mitchinson gives the latest on the New York shooter who killed the UnitedHealthcare CEO. 'Deny' 'Defend' 'Dispose' written on the gun's shell casings. A large earthquake hit California today. An Insurance company halts their plan to put time limits on coverage for anaesthesia. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two teens are missing from the Government’s bootcamp, and one has died. ANZMIN meeting took place in Auckland today between Australian and New Zealand foreign affairs and defence ministers. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper is in studio discussing this and whether the bootcamps are working. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England overcome a rough start in the cricket, while the Black Caps display 'safer hands' in this test.  Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix to play their second derby tomorrow.  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine says the Wellington Phoenix are in for a shot despite Auckland FC not letting a goal in in 5 games.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A six-month facial recognition trial at 25 Foodstuffs North Island stores reduced harm by 16% across the board. The initiative prevented more than 100 serious in-store incidents, including assault. General counsel for Foodstuffs North Island Julian Benefield speaks with Heather du Plessis-Allan about this as well as the ‘onion trick’ being used at checkouts. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gregg Wallace's ghostwriter is the latest person to come forward with sexual harassment allegations concerning the MasterChef presenter. Shannon Kyle, the ghostwriter behind Wallace's 2012 autobiography, accused him of inappropriate conduct and touching while she worked on Life On A Plate. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Kyle originally signed an NDA - but broke the contract because she felt it was important to bring this behaviour to light. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show there's been a significant decrease in lambs for spring 2024, compared with this time last year. The B+LNZ 2024 Lamb Crop Report indicated 1.1 million fewer lambs were tailed/docked compared to 2023, bringing the total lamb crop to an estimated 19.2 million.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has sold its remaining 9.7 percent stake in Auckland International Airport. The sale will return at least $1.31 billion dollars for the Future Fund. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for energy reform to avoid New Zealand's de-industrialisation. Around 60 leaders from the Upper North Island energy sector gathered today to develop solutions to the sector’s deep-seated structural problems. Northern Infrastructure Forum executive director Barney Irvine says there's a serious supply and demand imbalance - and a solution is needed before demand ramps up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 5 December 2024, police bosses are warning the Government's election promise to train 500 new officers could take longer than its self-imposed two-year deadline. Associate Police Minister Casey Costello reckons the deadline is still very much achievable. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister on the show with his take on how much to spend on defence, China, and New Zealand's potential membership in AUKUS Pillar II. Plus, Spotify Wrapped has got everyone talking. We reveal our top artists and songs, including the Prime Minister's. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ head Nick Leggett and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   New research has revealed the Bank of Mum and Dad has helped a significant percentage of millennial and Gen Z Kiwis into their first home. What does this say about the state of the economy? It's Spotify Wrapped day - who made our lists? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy giant Fonterra has raised its forecast milk price payout to a midpoint of $10 - the second rise in less than a month. The company says this new forecast reflects strong international demand, particularly from China and Southeast Asia. Fonterra's CFO Andrew Murray says this news has been received positively by farmers. "US production is very flat and European production is down - so the demand from imports is pretty good from our perspective and we've had a strong start to the season as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister - and Defence Minister - says it's time to strengthen the relationship with New Zealand.  The Foreign and Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Australia are meeting tomorrow.  Australia's Richard Marles says in terms of relationships - his country's had more dialogue with China and reinstated trade, but there are also significant security anxieties.  "This is a time to be doubling down with friends - so many other countries in the region face the same challenges, but for Australia and New Zealand, there are no two countries as close to each other." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has reportedly decided it’s not in their best interest to take a test against the All Blacks in the United States next year. Last week, it was revealed NZR was considering moving an All Blacks home test against France next year to the US as a potential test double-header with England and the USA Eagles. However,  French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill today revealed that all three tests of the July tour will be played in New Zealand. Former NZ Rugby chief executive David Moffett says there's not much of an audience in the US for rugby anyway. "The fact that France don't want to go to America has obviously killed that - and I'm not at all concerned that they have, to be perfectly honest." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is looking to crack down on merger rules. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reviewing the Commerce Act - which could lead to blocking more proposed mergers and acquisitions.  It's also hoping to give the Commerce Commission more teeth. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayley says they're making sure the laws are fit for purpose. "We've got a number of industries where we've got a small number of players who've got very significant market shares - and it means less innovation happening and more New Zealanders paying more than they ought to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has faith it will hit its target of 500 new police officers by next November - despite the new Commissioner's scepticism.  Richard Chambers says because he refuses to lower the quality of trained officers, June 2026 is a more realistic deadline.  Associate Police Minister Casey Costello says she has no reason to believe the date should shift. "I've been reassured that we are on track, that we are working hard - we have a massive recruitment pipeline, the biggest that they've ever seen. So we're driving forward on that November 2025 target." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister appears to be tempering expectations on delivering a free trade deal with India.  Pre-election, National promised to get an agreement within its first term. Todd McClay has met his Indian counterpart six times this year - and the Prime Minister had a sit-down meeting with President Modi in October.  NewstalkZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says McClay  won't confirm if this goal will be met within the Government's first term. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spotify has released its annual Wrapped results for 2024 - and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese copped a bit of backlash after he shared his. Albanese posted his list to social media this morning, showing his top songs were Australia by G Flip, Letting Go by Angie McMahon, Still Have Room by Hockey Dad, Pedestal by Lime Cordiale and Get Me Out by Stingray. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the internet has had mixed reactions to the Prime Minister's post.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.