Larry Williams Drive

Parliamentarians honoured Kīngi Tūheitia with speeches this afternoon - before the House adjourned early. The leader of the Kiingitanga died almost a fortnight ago, following heart surgery. He's succeeded by his daughter - 27-year-old Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te pō. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks today's tributes from all sides of the political aisle.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two children were discovered dead in a Blue Mountains home, with a woman en route to hospital under police guard. New South Wales authorities said officers were called to the location on Tuesday afternoon to investigate the welfare of the woman and two children. The boys, aged 9 and 11, were found dead in the home by a family member. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says investigations are still ongoing.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's fears another day may go by without any start to the maiden cricket test between the Black Caps and Afghanistan. Despite clear skies at Greater Noida - on the outskirts of Delhi in India - a sodden outfield means there's still been no toss for the one-off fixture. An inspection has been scheduled for 6.30pm (NZT). Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave says it's likely the match will be called off again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New legislation will stop Australia's youth from accessing social networks like Instagram, Snapchat, Discord and TikTok. The Australian Government will introduce legislation by the end of the year to create a minimum age for accessing social media. Professor Lisa Given from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology wonders if a wide-scale ban is even possible. "The question is, are there workarounds on that? There's certainly ways that children could get around that type of mechanism, using a VPN for example - or even just accessing content through other people's accounts." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great Ormond Street Hospital in London has launched an urgent review of 721 cases that were treated by a former surgeon. The hospital has revealed multiple children had come to severe harm under the care of Yaser Jabbar, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's alleged Jabbar conducted inappropriate procedures on these children - causing permanent damage in some.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Volatility has returned to US markets, with a significant drop on Friday. Weak employment data saw markets price in larger cuts to US official interest rates by the US Federal Reserve - which is due to meet on the 17th of September. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 400 Christian leaders have written an open letter asking the Government to stop the bill from going to Select Committee. This list includes senior leaders of Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Salvation Army and Vineyard denominations. Very Reverend Jay Ruka from Taranaki Cathedral is one of the signatories - and he said the bill is built on an incorrect premise. "I just think it's unwise - such a proposal should be put forth in that forum. By all means, let's talk about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and even at that forum, but let's compare apples to apples." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Brigitte Morten from Franks Ogilvie joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! ACT's David Seymour has outlined some new changes to the Treaty Principles Bill amid growing calls to not let the bill progress to select committee stage. Will this turn public opinion around? Will National change its mind about the bill? The principal at Porirua College has cancelled upcoming literacy tests that students have to pass to get NCEA, because her students are not prepared. Is this the right call?  New research reveals Kiwis are really boring when it comes to going out for dinner. A new survey found Auckland restaurants closed the earliest in the world. Why do we think this is? Do we need to change our image? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has voiced support for more action to be taken against the grocery sector.  The Grocery Commissioner's report into the sector has found no meaningful improvement in competition, increasing margins and high profitability. Nicola Willis says most households would support a crackdown led by the Commissioner.  "I think most New Zealanders would agree that competition between the major supermarket players is important - and we want to get a good deal for consumers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 September 2024, ACT leader David Seymour has agreed to a change in the draft Treaty Principles Bill. He tells Heather he hopes it will make the bill more palatable for its opponents. Porirua College has cancelled literacy exams for its NCEA students because the kids aren't prepared. Principal Ragne Maxwell tells Heather it's not defeatist but practical. Health Minister Shane Reti on forcing Health NZ to change its eligibility criteria for free GP visits to take ethnicity out of it. Plus, the Huddle debates a survey that found that Auckland restaurants close earlier than anywhere else in the world. 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 Health Minister is defending staff confidentiality agreements. Labour has complained to the Public Service Commission about the number of non-disclosure agreements gagging Health New Zealand staff from talking about work. It claims 67 staff have signed them since June - including senior leaders responsible for briefing media and members of Parliament. Minister Shane Reti says he has no concerns. "The previous Government did as well - whether they used confidentiality agreements or NDAs or a similar sort of process. They need to be used appropriately, but it's commonplace in commercial environments with particularly sensitive issues." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has revealed Auckland eateries have the earliest closing times in the world. According to international food magazine Chef’s Pencil, it's unusual for Auckland restaurants to take bookings past 8:30pm, with many closing up between 9pm or 10.pm Restaurant Association NZ's Nicola Waldren says dining early is a key part of New Zealand's culture - and it's helpful for the restaurants.  "Those early diners will come in early, have a quick meal - and that allows them to take advantage of a quieter dining environment and they don't have to wait for a table." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Porirua College's principal is doubling down on the school's decision to cancel NCEA literacy tests. Students must pass the new online literacy and numeracy tests to receive their NCEA qualifications, but there are alternatives this year and the next year while the new curriculum is brought in. Ragne Maxwell says half of all students countrywide are failing the tests - and they're overloaded. "We are asked to put the students in for assessments when we feel they have a realistic chance of success. We don't think this is that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The architect of the Treaty Principles Bill is still hopeful the Prime Minister could support it. David Seymour confirms Cabinet discussed his Bill today - and agreed its broad outline before it goes to Parliament's drafters. He says it'll change to acknowledge the rights of hapu and iwi at the time of the Treaty. Chris Luxon says he won't support it past first reading, but Seymour's optimistic that could change. "You see the exact wording, you see other people's reactions, you see it's actually a force for good - and maybe you take a different view." Luxon said today that ACT and National don't agree on this. "We found a compromise where both parties didn't get what they wanted, but we have to honour our coalition commitments - and that's what we're doing here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of Christian organisations have questioned the Treaty Principles Bill. More than 400 groups penned an open letter to the Government, warning the ACT Party Bill to redefine te Tiriti principles is divisive. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the churches need to stick to preaching to their congregations - but they clearly don't see it that way.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A search has gone global for a Brisbane man who poured a thermos of hot coffee on a baby. The nine-month-old had a third round of surgery last week for burns to his face and chest after the random attack in August. Australia correspondent Oliver Peterson says police are working with international investigators. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are determined to put the last couple of losses behind them and focus on the future ahead. New Zealand are homeward bound from South Africa, having lost both matches and now with three defeats in their last four tests. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A national Muslim spokesperson says threats that forced two Auckland Islamic schools to close today are shocking - but not surprising. Māngere's Al-Madinah School and Zayed College for Girls closed, and access is limited to New Lynn's Iqra primary school. Police are investigating a threatening email. Federation of Islamic Associations spokesperson, Abdur Razzaq says Government moves to relax national security put more than schools at risk. "It's not just us - with the globe looking how it is now, it could happen to any of us, or another school, it could happen to a synagogue, a community centre, a women's centre...there are important lessons from this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the 9th of September, is the start of a fortnight of NCEA pupils across the country sitting their exams for first time. They'll be doing reading, writing and numeracy exams. I would say this is happening everywhere across the country - except it isn’t, because Porirua College has decided to cancel their literacy exams because the kids won't pass. They're not ready, the principal says Porirua College hasn't been able to get the kids ready enough to make it a 'positive experience' and so they've just canned the reading and writing exams. Now, this is not the end of the world. These exams aren’t compulsory this year, they're only compulsory from 2026. This year, the kids can make up the credits through other ways if they want to pass NCEA. But what I'm really disappointed by is the attitude of just giving up on kids. These aren't difficult tests designed for third year university students or fully grown adults, they are designed for year 10/year 11 kids to make sure they actually know what they need to kn

Hospitality sales are down up to 50 percent, according to member of Courtney Place Precinct Group and owner of Courtney Place businesses, Greig Wilson.  Cafe and bakery chain Pandoro is the latest to close it’s doors after 28 years - in a string of hospitality closures in the capital.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.