Larry Williams Drive

ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions have surged around the world - but there's concern from experts that we might be overdoing it. In New Zealand, prescriptions for the relevant medication have increased tenfold since 2006 and Pharmac has reported a 140 percent rise in demand for these medications. General Practice NZ chair Dr Bryan Betty says it's a complex diagnosis - and there are several conditions that can mimic ADHD symptoms. "ADHD is very complex, there's a list of diagnostic criteria. It's really really important that assessments give a proper diagnosis, because the treatment can be life-changing - and it's really important to understand that. However, it can mimic a whole lot of other things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 20 November 2024, the new Police Commissioner Richard Chambers tells Heather he will bring a different style to police leadership than his predecessor. Transport Minister Simeon Brown reveals the Transport Agency has spent almost $800 million on road cones and traffic management over the past three years. Heather reckons we need to be careful when celebrating the drop of alcohol consumption among young people. Plus the Huddle debates Auckland Transport's decision to fine people $70 for parking in their driveway. 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.

There's more power pain to come next year - as Kiwi households can expect a slight increase to their bills come April. The Commerce Commission has warned the average power bill will go up by $10, and there's room for additional increases to come. Commissioner Vhari McWha says additional funding is needed to create a safe and reliable power network. "For Transpower in particular, some of their assets are quite old and they need to be replaced - and some of them are less old and they'll be maintaining those." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has pledged $10 million to a global fund to help developing countries respond to climate change damage.  Minister-in-charge, Simon Watts has made the commitment at the UN Climate Change Summit in Azerbaijan. Watts says the contribution will help deliver effective support to help people in the most-affected regions build stronger communities. He explained that this will come out of New Zealand's overseas aid budget. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concern for hundreds of Kiwi workers as one of New Zealand's biggest pulp and paper mills looks to halt production. Tokoroa's Kinleith Mill plans to halt paper processing by June 2025 - with 230 jobs on the line. E tū negotiations specialist Joe Gallagher says these jobs cuts will have a ripple effect that impacts the rest of Tokoroa. "Tokoroa was born out of the fact that a lot of people migrated to the area to work at Kinleith - a lot of people rely on Kinleith. 230 jobs is not insignificant and that's not counting the downstream of people in cafes, doctors, nurses and all those other jobs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's proof regulating children's screen time can reduce the risk of childhood obesity. An Auckland University study has found cutting young children's device use and ensuring they get enough sleep both lower obesity risk. Professor Boyd Swinburn says it used data from more than 5,000 children aged between two to four-and-a-half He says the World Health Organisation recommends pre-schoolers have less than an hour of screentime a day. "In this cohort, 70 percent of them actually had more than an hour of screen time a day - it is a challenge keeping these young kids from the screens." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's new Police Commissioner is keeping an open mind about arming front line staff.  Deputy Commissioner Richard Chambers is replacing Andrew Coster - and has just returned from secondment with Interpol in France.  He says he's worked with many jurisdictions over the years, and hopes New Zealand doesn't get the point of arming cops.  But Chambers says policing is complex and volatile, and he'll do all he can to protect his staff.  "I've got to keep an open mind -what do my staff need? What sort of support do they need? I think we need to get to that place as a country."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nation's new top cop is prepared to step into the role. Richard Chambers has been appointed the new Police Commissioner by Minister Mark Mitchell - and he's ready to get stuck in on the eve of the Government's new patch ban. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Chambers has been rising through the ranks for decades - and he's a good fit for the job. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SpaceX's sixth Starship test flight splashed down in the Indian Ocean following today's highly-anticipated test mission.  The booster earlier plunged into the Gulf of Mexico soon after the launch. President-elect Donald Trump joined Elon Musk to watch the test - and wrote a supportive post about Musk and the team on his Truth Social network. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the pair have been inseparable after the US election - when Musk was made a key adviser to Trump. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope a women's trans-Tasman Super Rugby final is a sign of things to come. The Super Rugby Aupiki champions will face the Australian Super W winners in a crossover finale to be hosted in New Zealand next year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this news further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Agency has spent nearly $800 million on traffic management in the past three years, according to new reports. The Government has revealed the spend went to road cones, temporary traffic management, state highway maintenance and capital works.  Transport Minister Simeon Brown says this is an 'exorbitant' sum and the spending needs to come down.  "We need to see a much more efficient use of taxpayers' money when it comes to maintaining our roads and keeping road workers safe - we have to get that balance right." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Keir Starmer is hopeful the UK's relationship with China will be strengthened off the back of his meeting with Xi Jinping.  The pair met at the G20 summit - the first time a UK Prime Minister has met with the Chinese President since 2018. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Starmer's a pragmatist - and will be hoping to strengthen the business relationship between both nations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pressure on New Zealand's labour market continues to tighten, with job ads falling for the third consecutive month. Despite these grim figures, one expert has noticed there's light at the end of the tunnel for the economy Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! After nine days, the hīkoi made it to Wellington, with 55,000 people marching on Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill. The protest was peaceful - but will it be a success? Shane Jones and David Seymour have called for harsher punishments for MPs who misbehave in Parliament off the back of last week's infamous haka in the House. Do we need tougher standards in Parliament?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 19 November 2024, tens of thousands of protesters have turned up at Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper was there and tells Heather how he saw the day play out. Shane Jones and David Seymour reckon there should be harsher penalties for MPs who misbehave in Parliament, after the Maori Party's haka went viral on social media. There's concern that the lack of water infrastructure will significantly slow down housing developments in Auckland over coming years. Plus the Huddle debates whether the Transport Agency is out of line closing the Desert Road for two months for maintenance. 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.

There's growing concerns that a lack of water infrastructure will slow down housing developments planned for parts of Auckland. On the Hibiscus Coast anyone without resource consent may have to wait until 2031 for a wastewater connection. The Army Bay treatment plant upgrade is not expected to be completed until 2031. Andrew Crosby of Xpect Property Limited says it's 'shocking' how much of Auckland has no water or wastewater capacity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils and waste industry experts are calling for increased regulations for the disposal of used batteries following an escalation in fires. WasteMINZ, the Waste & Recycling Industry Forum, Auckland Council and Christchurch City Council have come together to request direct action to prevent batteries from being thrown out or included in kerbside recycling.  WasteMINZ chief executive Nic Quilty says the organisation's website has a map of safe locations where people can dispose of their batteries and battery-powered products. "Most of the facilities are free of charge, some of them cost a little bit of money - but not much - and that's the best thing to do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment among some as State Highway 1 in the Central North Island will be closed for repairs for two months. The Desert Road is closing between Turangi and Waiouru from January 6 until the end of February. The detour will add half an hour and an extra 50 kilometres to journeys. NZTA's Roger Brady says the approach is well-planned - and the closure lets them squeeze in four months' worth of work into two. "So instead of having a long, drawn-out, ongoing inconvenience - yes, it's going to be inconvenient, but there'll be a limit to the inconvenience to two months."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora flew at supersonic speeds for the first time, clearing the way to begin commercial operations in a few months. The aircraft is the first Kiwi-designed-and-made rocket to break the sound barrier since the Concorde- opening the doors for expanded space travel possibilities. CEO Stefan Powell says this proves the technology works - and sets the stage for further opportunities.  "That sets the stage for us to be able to extend that certification, ultimately up to above space. This can be the first vehicle to fly to space multiple times a day." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A competition lawyer says it'll be very unlikely Foodstuff's appeal will succeed. The Commerce Commission declined its merger of its North and South Island arms- saying it would lessen grocery competition and hurt suppliers.  Foodstuffs North Islands chief executive, Chris Quin, says the change would actually make it easier for suppliers.  Lawyer Neil Anderson says it's unlikely a case like this will go to court, with even less chance of winning. "The commercial parties, by the time they've been through a clearance process and then are faced with an appeal process - they'll push it out a further six months, it's quite unusual for a deal to survive that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.