Larry Williams Drive

The Wellington Phoenix are readying themselves for a raucous reception in Saturday's return Kiwi football derby against Auckland FC.  One section of the sold out 26,000-seat Mt Smart Stadium has been dedicated to Phoenix fan group Yellow Fever. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what fans can expect ahead of the match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One in three first home buyers in New Zealand have received financial help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, new reports claim. A Kiwibank study has found high property prices are keeping young people out of the market - meaning more Gen Z and millennial buyers have turned to parental support to get on the ladder. Lesley Harris from the First Home Buyers Club says the Bank of Mum and Dad remains the nation's biggest lender for young buyers. "We're seeing such a massive disparity between people's incomes and ability to purchase a home, which is completely different to what it was 20 or 30 years ago." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, the new Covid corruption commissioner has launched his first investigation into PPE fraud. Chancellor Rachel Reeves appointed Tom Hayhoe to recoup billions in fraudulent contracts. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there was significant demand for PPE during the pandemic - and an investigation was needed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It hasn't been a great year for the NZX, but one expert believes things are in place for a better 2025. The reduced interest rates could lead to a better outlook for investors going forward, according to new reports. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled plans to reduce the amount aggrieved employees can be compensated by their employers – to zero in some cases. Minister Brooke van Velden has detailed proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act, which are aimed at giving egregious employers more power in disputes with employees, who have behaved badly themselves.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains how these changes could impact businesses and workers alike. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for New Zealand's universities - international students enrolments are back up again. There were 73,535 international enrolments between January to August 2024, up 24 percent compared to the same period last year. Universities NZ CEO Chris Whelan says a majority of these enrolments are coming from China or India - but other countries are contributing too. "We would like to grow in other markets... that's a set of ongoing conversations we'll be having, particularly with ministers and our immigration NZ colleagues."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Early Edition host Ryan Bridge joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Labour's Ayesha Verrall raised a few eyebrows after she accused Health Commissioner Lester Levy of 'cooking the books' in his previous DHB rules. Should we take these accusations seriously? Kāinga Ora has ruled out putting wool carpets in its houses - because it's more expensive than nylon alternatives. There's plenty of disappointment from the Government - what do we make of this? Public sector Christmas parties seem like they'll be a sad affair this time round - with some requiring staff to bring their own food or alcohol. Is this the right move?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 4 December 2024, Tingjun Cao has been found guilty of murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Labour's Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall is refusing to apologise for accusing Health Commissioner Lester Levy of "cooking the books". Levy is considering defamation action. The science community is outraged after the Government decided that the Marsden Fund will no longer support research in the humanities and social sciences. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Kainga Ora should make a u-turn and consider wool carpets rather than nylon.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 Government has introduced new legislation set to limit the amount of full farm to forestry conversions. The rule changes will stop Category 1 to 5 land being converted into forestry - and those with Category 6 land will only be allowed to convert 15,000 hectares. Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay says National had promised voters these changes were coming - and took the full year to make sure they were implemented properly. "We're putting a moratorium in place so there can be no full farm-to-forest conversion, but we are allowing farmers to convert up to 25 percent of their own land to go into the emissions trading scheme, should they wish."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ayesha Verrall has stepped up to defend her accusations against Health Commissioner Lester Levy. Levy - who was brought in to replace the agency's board after financial concerns were raised - is being grilled by MPs for the organisation's Annual Review.  Verrall accused Levy of having 'a reputation of cooking the books' - citing examples of past roles.  She says recent accounts have been presented in a 'non-conventional' way. "That's exactly what I'm saying - this is pretty fishy. You have this process that is being used to justify health cuts where the Auditor-General says the accounting treatment is not right." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's strong opposition from the science community to the new Government approach to research funding.  The Science, Innovation and Technology Minister is refocusing the Marsden Fund on core science projects, disbanding its humanities and social sciences panels. Minister Judith Collins says it's to prioritise research of economic, environmental, or a health benefit to New Zealand.   MacDiarmid Institute co-director Nicola Gaston says it entirely defeats the Marsden Fund's purpose. "It is equitable because it is not granted with the intention that there should be specific impacts - it's about creating knowledge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese national Tingjun Cao has been found guilty of murdering Yanfei Bao. The Christchurch woman's body was found in a shallow grave this year - more than a year after going missing. Cao killed Bao after a private property viewing - before trying to dispose of evidence and leave the country.  Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell has been at court. She says the jury deliberated for just over an hour-and-a-half on Cao's guilt. "He left as he walked in this afternoon - with his hands behind his back, his head slightly down, he seemed silent, he seemed quiet throughout the jury reading out their verdict." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chief Ombudsman says the Ministry of Social Development's payment scheme for survivors of abuse is 'unreasonable'. Peter Boshier's expressed the opinion after a complaint by a law firm representing 1000 claimants. He says the Ministry’s criteria for accepting claims is too narrow, and there's no clear way for people to review refused claims. "We've found that aspects of this are unreasonable, the basis upon which decisions were being approached not clear, what was being taken into account not clear." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Soper met with Boris Johnson again - hours after delivering a 'critical' summary of his first meeting with the former Prime Minister. Soper met with Johnson over lunch again earlier today, and Johnson was quick to bring up yesterday's radio recap. "If you're listening at the moment, Boris, you're not a bad bugger. He was pretty good - today's lunch was hosted by General Finance, it was around a table and it really was just a yarn." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President-elect Donald Trump - and his legal team - are using Joe Biden's recent pardoning of his son Hunter to argue that Trump’s hush money case should be dismissed. Trump was prosecuted earlier in the year for falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels in 2016. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Biden's choice has come with political blowback - from both sides of the aisle.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram is questioning the logic behind the ICC's sanctioning of the New Zealand and England cricket teams for their slow over rate in the opening test in Christchurch. Both teams have been fined 15 percent of their match fee and docked three World Test Championship points, which further dampens the Black Caps' odds of making the final. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kāinga Ora has copped some backlash for scrapping wool carpets in favour of nylon synthetics in state houses. The agency has released a request for proposal for companies to provide carpet and underlay for its state homes - but claimed nylon was 34 percent cheaper than wool alternatives. Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson has voiced 'disappointment' with this choice. "We're trying to revitalise the sheep industry, the wool industry - we're starting to make some progress on that, but this is a kick in the guts." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French Government is all but guaranteed to collapse in the coming days after far-right and left-wing parties submitted no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Michel Barnier. If this goes forward, Barnier's coalition will be the first French Government to be forced out by a no-confidence vote since 1962. UK correspondent Enda Brady says France is the second strongest economy in Europe - and stability is needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it's possible there'll be more cases of bird flu at an Otago egg farm. The culling of 80,000 chickens at the Mainland Poultry property in Moeraki will begin tomorrow. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained this won't create too much trouble for the sector - as there's millions of layer hens in the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has offered a theory about why SolarZero met the end that it did. The Kiwi-founded solar and battery firm was placed into liquidation - costing over 160 employees their jobs. Lightforce Solar owner John Harman says SolarZero offered an 'amazing' deal for consumers - but economic factors have created additional trouble for the sector.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.