Larry Williams Drive

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 15 November. 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.

Good luck to TVNZ.   Good luck to TVNZ trying to convince anyone that they are unbiased, given what's just happened with them in the last week.   I just played you the clip of the Breakfast reporter singing with the organiser of the Hikoi - which I think any right-minded person would interpret as an endorsement of the Hikoi.   I think this should earn her some serious trouble if TVNZ takes perceptions of bias seriously.   What is much more serious for them is that the woman who was tipped to become the top news boss has just been outed today for taking personal leave to go on the Hikoi.   The reason we know this is because she loves a social media post, and she's put it up on her Instagram. So just flaunted it for everyone to see.   If you are a news boss, or about to become the news boss, you should be smart enough to keep that private emphasis on private - especially if your organisation is trying to pretend that it's unbiased, which is what TVNZ is trying to do.   Very ha

The number of prison officers sacked for misconduct in UK jails has gone up by more than a third on last year. Offences include sex acts with inmates and other inappropriate behaviour and selling drugs and phones.  UK correspondent Gail Downey tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the problem is being put down to young, inexperienced staff with poor vetting and inadequate training.  Plus, one of the brothers of Mohamed Al Fayed, who owned the Harrods department store in London has been accused of sexual assault and trafficking by three women who worked there.  And, the UK government wants to merge the country’s 86 local government pension schemes into a handful of “pension megafunds” in what is being called the "biggest pension reform in decades.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump has nominated Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State.   Rubio, an Iran and China hawk who serves on the Senate foreign relations committee, would become one of the most prominent members of Trump’s foreign policy team if confirmed by the Senate next year. He would be the first sitting secretary of state to have been sanctioned by Beijing, meaning he cannot visit China. Rubio sponsored a bill trying to prevent the import of goods made by China’s ethnic Uyghur minority, which Biden later signed into law.  Meanwhile, Beijing has prepared powerful countermeasures to retaliate against US companies if president-elect Donald Trump reignites a smouldering trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission are taking action against One NZ over their ‘100% mobile coverage’ plan and Starlink rollout.  The watchdog believes the advertising campaign breached the Fair Trading Act, saying customers were under the impression that coverage would include data and voice calling – not a text only service.  Tech commentator and Gorilla Tech CEO, Paul Spain tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the case seems over the top, given the CommComm hasn’t chased other companies whose products have not met all claims.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week that was with Heather du Plessis-Allan – including Parliamentary debacle, apology to victims of state care abuse, and Wellington Council’s observer’s first week on the job.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby commentator Paul Allison and sport journalist Jim Kayes join the Sports Huddle to discuss Beauden Barrett getting the number 10 nod over Damien Mckenzie, Tim Southee’s retirement, and the Blues hoarding All Blacks first fives.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have made five changes ahead of the weekend’s test against France.  Beauden Barrett and Cam Roigard have been given the nod at 9 and 10, with Ardie Savea moving to openside.  Former All Black Ben Smith tells Heather du Plessis-Allan Barrett’s experience at 10 will make for a strong start, with Damien Mckenzie bringing good impact from the bench in a game that will need to be fought to the end.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is looking at overhauling its approach to conservation.  The current Conservation Act hasn’t been touched in 37 years.  Proposed changes include charging for access to Department of Conservation land, simplifying rules to make protecting natural areas easier, and reducing red tape for tourism opportunities.  Deputy Director-General Policy and Regulatory Services at Department of Conservation, Ruth Isaac tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the government has been looking at what is being done overseas to generate the revenue needed to maintain and support conservation areas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday’s Treaty Principles parliamentary debate caught international attention.  Labour MP Willie Jackson was ejected from Parliament during the debate, and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was suspended following a haka.  A number of countries have reacted, with Sky News Australia labelling the scenes a “temper tantrum”.  US Fox News attempted a haka of their own.  UK newspaper The Guardian described the “significant public backlash” the Bill faces, and international news agency Reuters reported on “shouting drowning out others in the chamber”.   Political commentator Peter Dunne tells Heather du Plessis-Allan “Parliament is the highest court in the land and proper decorum and dignity should be a part of its proceedings.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament is preparing for the arrival of the hīkoi next Tuesday.   And, former National minister for Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson believes the Treaty Principles Bill will greatly damage National’s relationship with Māori.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has tapped vaccine-sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr to be US Secretary of Health.   The nomination has prompted widespread criticisms, though Trump says Kennedy “will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”   US correspondent Dan Mitchinson tells Heather du Plessis-Allan Kennedy’s signature cause is to fight chronic disease, but he is also urging the removal of fluoride from water.  Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) has seen its largest user exodus since Elon Musk took over.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps veteran Tim Southee has announced his retirement from test match cricket.   Southee will bring the curtain down on his career after the upcoming series against England, starting on November 28 in Christchurch.  Host of Weekend Sport, Jason Pine tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the series will be a nice way for Southee to finish on home soil.  Meanwhile, the All Blacks have made changes in key positions for this Sunday’s test against France.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is calling for local democracy reporting to be expanded to all communities.  The call comes as NZME proposes to cut 14 North Island-based community papers before Christmas. These newspapers collectively serve over 850,000 people.  Local mayors are concerned the closures could negatively impact turnout in next year’s local body elections.  Central Hawkes Bay Mayor and LGNZ Rural Chair tells Heather du Plessis-Allan “this is not just a local newspaper issue; this is about wider media.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British news outlet The Guardian will no longer be posting on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) going forward. The news organisation has voiced concerns with the platform's content - and believe the risks now outweigh the benefits. UK correspondent Enda Brady says many in the media industry feel that X has gotten more toxic since Elon Musk bought the platform.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US investors are still riding high one week after Donald Trump won the US presidency - but what can they expect long-term? Dow, and S&P, among others are experiencing rapid growth, but experts wonder how long this can last. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monthly food prices fell 0.9 percent in October compared with September, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The largest contributor to the fall was vegetables, down 7.2 percent. But a rise in fruit prices, up 0.6 percent, partly offsets that. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means for the state of the economy - and inflation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers at this morning's Fonterra AGM took the opportunity to probe the company around their reasons to sell off the company's consumer brands.  Fonterra is looking to sell key brands such as Anchor and Mainland - and the farmers have expressed disappointment with this choice. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A lot of drama in the House as Te Pāti Māori disrupted the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill with a haka. What do we make of this?  The IRD is cracking down on overseas student debtors - and called in the collectors. Is this a good move? Air New Zealand has launched their latest safety video starring Steven Adams and Tom Sainsbury and other big Kiwi names. Is this a good idea - or a waste of money? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 November 2024, dramatic scenes in Parliament this afternoon during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill. Labour MP Willie Jackson got thrown out of the house, and Maori Party MPs staged a huge haka that saw Parliament suspended. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he's never seen scenes like that and NZ First Minister Shane Jones has called for the disruptors to be jailed. The IRD is cracking down on the people who now live overseas and aren't paying back their student loan. Plus, the Huddle weighs in on Air NZ's new safety video. Naff or a Kiwi classic? 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.