Larry Williams Drive

Spark has reduced its earnings and dividend guidance for the 2025 year, saying its financial performance 'falls short of what is acceptable'. The company said its operating earnings (Ebitdai) were expected to fall to around $1.12-$1.18 billion in 2025, down 4% from a previous forecast of $1.165-$1.22b. The company has reduced its dividend forecast from 27.5 cents to 25c, 75% imputed. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton unpacks the downturn. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Selwyn District Council welcomes proposed Government reforms to speed up building consents. The nation's fastest-growing region says any changes that could speed up progress are helpful, as building consents have always been a focus for the Selwyn District Council. Selwyn District Council Head of Building, Vanessa Mitchell, says this move will free up inspectors to focus on other areas. "We've been under enormous pressure over the past few years - and we really see advantages in the proposals that have come out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ is set to head back to court tomorrow as part of their ongoing legal dispute with Gloriavale. If the hearing goes well, the bank could get approval to close the accounts Gloriavale has with BNZ. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny reveals what could come out of tomorrow's case. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Health NZ is under fire again for their spending - on top of the recent $60,000 catering bill, it's been revealed they spent $100,000 on catering costs last year. Can they really justify this? Jeff  Bezos has defended stopping the Washington Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, saying it creates the 'perception of bias'. Is this a good argument or bad excuse? Police are opposed to a suicide prevention fundraiser in Dunedin distributing alcohol. Do they have a point - or is this a step too far? Is it time to ditch the haka - or is Joe Marler wrong about it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 October 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have delivered their closing arguments ahead of next week's US election. Jack Tame was at Kamala Harris' rally in Washington. Associate Education Minister David Seymour reveals what we need to do to improve chronic absenteeism for our school kids. Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains reacts to England prop Joe Marler calling for the haka to be binned. Plus the Huddle debates whether another $100,000 catering bill for a Health NZ conference is completely out of order. 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.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says the Government is open to discussing whether to ban language and symbols related to the Nazis. It comes after individuals involved in a Mongrel Mob tangi procession in Lower Hutt on Tuesday openly used the term ‘sieg heil’, commonly known as a Nazi chant meaning ‘hail victory’. Sociologist Paul Spoonley isn't sure a full ban would be enforceable.  "I think banning doesn't address underlying problems - and I would say the same about swastikas and Nazi salutes as I would about the gang patches." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Education Minister says the key to fixing truancy is banding agencies together.  In Term 2 this year, one in 10 students was chronically absent - with more than 80,000 missing more than three weeks of the term.  Since 2015, chronic absence has doubled in secondary schools and almost tripled in primary schools.  David Seymour says his proposed solution ties in all the key players. "It has a role for everybody. Parents, critically, but also students and the school and the different Government agencies like the Attendance Service, Oranga Tamariki, police and so on."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's renewed debate about the haka's purpose after Joe Marler suggested it should be banned. The English prop labelled it 'ridiculous' in a post on social media ahead of this week's rugby test at Twickenham. Former All Blacks head coach Laurie Mains says the haka is a long-standing rugby tradition within the team - and Marler wouldn't understand its significance.  "Who would want to take any offence at what Joe Marler says? After all, he's a front-row prop and he wouldn't have a clue where the haka stands in New Zealand rugby." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivors of Lake Alice hospital, who battled the Crown in court, are now being urged to contact the Government for compensation.  A Royal Commission of Inquiry has acknowledged children at the Manawatu hospital endured torture in the 1970s.  The Government is offering to reimburse survivors who fought for redress in 2001, but lost a significant amount on legal costs.  Minister-in-Charge Erica Stanford says it's estimated about 70 people in this group are still alive.  "We don't have, unfortunately, all of their details. We've got many details - and some of them I've been in touch with myself - but we're relying on them to come forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamala Harris has delivered her closing arguments to propel her presidential campaign over the line, with one week until Election Day.  The US Vice President's spoken from Washington DC - where she's painted a strong contrast between herself and rival Donald Trump.  Harris says Trump would open a floodgate of vengeance against his political rivals, while she would work for the American people.  Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame was there and says the symbolism of the setting was everything - and she looked presidential.  "Anyone tuning in on television would have seen Kamala Harris coming up beautifully lit with the White House directly behind her." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave her final pre-election speech to voters this afternoon. She delivered the address at the Ellipse in Washington DC - the site where Trump rallied supporters ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this served as an effective reminder for voters ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of Gumboot Friday has voiced his disapproval with authorities banning alcohol from a Dunedin event. Police are looking to stop a suicide prevention charity for applying for a temporary liquor license ahead of a fashion show designed to raise awareness. Mike King says this move is 'classic overreach'. "This is a bunch of young, polytech students who have a fashion show where they want to raise awareness and funds for a local suicide prevention trust. It has nothing to do with the trust - this is just an avenue for young people who care about the well-being of other people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Vice President Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator in her final major pre-election address.  She's delivered her pitch to more than 50 thousand people at the Ellipse in Washington DC, the site of Trump's rally before the Capitol riots. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson said Harris needed to convince voters the economy was in good hands - and she delivered in her speech. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England prop Joe Marler has labelled the haka 'ridiculous' and claimed it needs to be scrapped altogether in a post on social media. Marler's not involved in this weekend’s test, sparing him the glare of an on-field response come Sunday at Twickenham. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out the people who want to shut other people up just do not learn from history, do they? I consider myself to be reasonably well informed, because I have to be for my job. I read the newspapers every day, I listen to the radio, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on  - and yet even I had completely forgotten Candace Owens was coming to New Zealand. Until this week - mainly thanks to Young Labour, who are trying to stop her from coming to New Zealand. They published an open letting urging the Government to ban her, like Australia just did yesterday. Which only reminded me that I should probably go and read up on some of her controversial stuff so I know exactly what the problem is. So Young Labour can thank themselves for spreading her rhetoric even more widely. The reason they want to ban her is because we - 'have an obligation to be protecting our communities from that kind of rhetoric that empowers divisive movements.' Have they heard of the internet? Borders don't keep bad ideas out a

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 29 October 2024, trusted builders will soon be able to sign off on their own work without a council inspector. Building Minister Chris Penk tells Heather what happens if something goes wrong (a la leaky homes). Jack Tame speaks to Heather after spending the evening at a Donald Trump rally in Georgia - and why he thinks Kamala Harris has lost the momentum. Heather is outraged at senior political correspondent Barry Soper's take on King Charles' suit choice. Plus, the Huddle debates whether anybody still sends and receives mail and whether we could scrap postal deliveries all together.   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 shock in the UK as thieves made off with over $650,000 worth of cheese from a London shop. Neal’s Yard Dairy said a con artist posing as a distributor for a major French retailer managed to steal a fortune's worth of cheddar before the company realised it was a scam and reported the crime. UK correspondent Enda Brady says authorities are looking to solve the crime and find out where the cheese went.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's Jamie Mackay has returned to New Zealand after a trip to the US - and he's seen the mood of voters first-hand ahead of the US election. After one of the most turbulent election years in America's history, voters will choose their next president one week from today. Jamie Mackay says it's a close race - but he's got a theory about who will win. 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!  We've got a week to go until Election Day in the US - what do we think at this point? Between Trump and Harris, who's going to win? Labour's Ginny Andersen raised a few eyebrows after re-sharing a meme poking fun at King Charles over the weekend. What do we make of this? Is she a liability to Labour?  MBIE is proposing to cut back on services following a drop in mail volume? Is this the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest employment numbers for September 2024 show the job market is still in a tough spot. Annual filled jobs were down 0.9 percent compared to this time last year. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says this is a tricky point for the economy - and things aren't expected to get better until mid-2025. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.