Larry Williams Drive

Wellington Council is copping backlash for spending over $84,000 on a bike rack that goes largely unused. Reports claim the bike rack only sees an average of just 2.7 bikes per week - even during busy days. One Wellington cyclist, Richard Martin, has lambasted this move as the council warns of rate hikes and water shortages. "We're facing 17 percent rate rises and we're also being told that we may have to conserve water next summer because the pipes still leak - and the council goes and spends $84,000. I'd much rather use that money to fix the leaks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's unclear how far meth-laced lollies could have been taken across Auckland. The Rinda brand pineapple lollies were donated to Auckland City Mission, and given out in food parcels. Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm says each lolly has about 300 doses of meth. She says even a single suck is dangerous. "There's still a range of effects, so you're likely to still feel an effect - possibly still needing to seek medical attention." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the start of a significant turnaround for the economy - as the Reserve Bank slashes the OCR for the first time since 2020. It's dropped the cash rate 25-basis points to 5.25 percent. Former Reserve Bank economist, Michael Reddell says Governor Orr's post-announcement claims about the economy don't stack up. "It's not as if some big event has happened externally, it's just that they badly misread what was going on in the economy - and it's pretty inexcusable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Auto Workers union has taken swift legal action against Donald Trump and Elon Musk following some comments they made during the infamous X livestream. The organisation is filing federal labour charges after Musk and Trump allegedly threatened and intimidated workers who chose to strike. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says this won't help Trump's bid for the presidency. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand's boss says his plan is to strengthen the clinical frontline - and it won't be cut or reduced. Commissioner Lester Levy has emailed staff to address a presentation yesterday, that suggested significant frontline cuts. He told them that directly conflicts with his thinking, and should be dismissed. Auckland University Emeritus Professor Des Gorman says it implies a disconnect between the Commissioner and senior officials. "And I think we're seeing that across all the health portfolios, that the various health ministers are struggling against officials' headwinds. And I think they're all finding it much harder to introduce changes than they thought they would." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proverb 'patience is a virtue' might well be written on the walls of the All Blacks hotel rooms in Auckland this week as they seek a much improved performance against Argentina. Coach Scott Robertson will be focused on improving the team's performance following their loss in Wellington. Ahead of tomorrow's squad reveal, Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave outlined his predictions. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, several Labour MPs have deleted their X accounts amid concerns about the platform. A group of newly-elected MPs have raised the alarm about the role X (formerly Twitter) played in spreading misinformation and harm during the far-right-led riots across the nation. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this could start a discussion about the role social media platforms can play during times of unrest. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to issue their latest OCR update tomorrow - and experts are divided about the outcome. Some economists are predicting rate cuts will come now, while others believe the Reserve Bank will hold steady and announce cuts later in the year. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says the Reserve Bank needs to lay the groundwork for future rate cuts. "The economy is in a darker place - but the Reserve Bank backed itself into a corner, all bets are off at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Paddy Gower and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The country's largest gas user, Methanex, will shut its plant until the end of October and has agreed to sell the gas to power companies Contact and Genesis. Given the options we had, is this the best out of a bad bunch? The Government is giving the green light to gene editing - and will overhaul laws that ban genetic engineering in NZ. How do you feel about that? Do we have to move with the times or is there danger for our exporters in being associated with GE? The NZ Herald will not run a planned ad from the Hobson's Pledge lobby group - after massive backlash about last week's full page front page ad. Freedom of Speech campaigners are upset - does this show that the publisher of the Herald is pulling punches? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 13 August 2024, Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge tells Heather about the deal his company struck with Methanex to secure the country's gas supply. We're back in court at the Polkinghorne trial where the pathologist who examined Pauline Hanna's injuries gave evidence. The Government's given the green light to gene editing. The Huddle debates whether the Herald should have run an ad by lobby group Hobson's Pledge on its front page - and whether it was a mistake to pull the next ad because of the complaints that followed. Plus, why are there no rock bands who make it to No. 1 in the charts anymore? 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.

New Plymouth's mayor says it's time for a cross-party energy strategy. Neil Holdom has a background in the energy industry, and is asking the Labour Party to support oil and gas exploration - onshore and off - through to 2050. Labour banned it while in Government. Holdom says Labour has an opportunity to come and work on a joint policy that offers the best of both worlds. "If we can get National and Labour to work on a joint policy that's sensible, based on science and economics - we can keep our economy going, we can reduce emissions." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NIWA has unveiled its new state of the art super-computer - worth $20 million. It's the fourth the agency's bought since 1999, with up to three times more power than its predecessor. Rob Murdoch, NIWA's deputy chief executive, says the technology will help model potential weather disasters. "Which is important when you have to think about things like Cyclone Gabrielle, for example - where it's very isolated and the hills can have a massive impact on the amount of rainfall." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers are hoping take advantage of new gene technology regulations as soon as possible. The Government's planning to introduce legislation this year to let researchers develop and commercialise gene tech products - outside laboratories. AgResearch Science Team Lead Richard Scott says taking it out of the lab will speed progress and reduce red tape. He says projects are already under way on genetically modified grasses. "We've already put forward an application to trial that in New Zealand - and we've got another couple lined up and ready to go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk's virtual interview with Donald Trump today was overshadowed by a technical glitch. The X (formerly Twitter) owner teased the interview as unscripted and highly entertaining, with no subject limits. But online traffic overloaded the platform with many struggling to access the live 'space'. US correspondent Nick Harper says Musk blamed it on a cyber attack, after earlier system scaling tests handled eight million listeners. "They even suggested through the course of the conversation at one point that potentially the Democrats were behind it - to stop Republican Donald Trump from making it onto the airwaves." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pathologist who did Pauline Hanna's autopsy has taken the stand in Phillip Polkinghorne's murder trial. The Auckland eye doctor is accused of killing his wife, Hanna, in 2021 - although his defence claims she killed herself. The court's heard today from Doctor Kilak Kesha. ZB's Chelsea Daniels says Kesha detailed seeing a belt impression on Hanna's neck at the scene. "An officer there alerted him to a belt found - he said it looked identical, but pretty much immediately after, defence lawyer Ron Mansfield got Kesha to concede the belt could have been used in her death." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's praise for a deal to free up gas to help keep the country's lights on. The nation's biggest gas user, Methanex, will shut down Kiwi operations until October - and is selling its gas to Contact Energy and Genesis Energy. It'll let them generate more power to combat a supply shortage that's sent power prices skyrocketing. Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge says it will cost Methanex some export earnings. He says that's outweighed by the benefit to the country. "In terms of the security of supply - that's what our focus is at the moment and we're very confident that we'll be able to see the country through."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it's overturning a nearly-30 year ban on genetic technology to bring us up to speed with the rest of the world. Science Minister Judith Collins says legislation ending the ban will be introduced to Parliament by the end of the year. A dedicated regulator will also be established to oversee gene technology applications. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says New Zealand stands to benefit from these new scientific developments. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigations are continuing into yesterday's fatal helicopter crash in Far North Queensland. The DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns was evacuated after a stolen helicopter crashed into the hotel roof early yesterday morning, sparking a massive explosion. The pilot - the only occupant of the helicopter - died. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the wreckage has been removed - and the flight recording devices have been sent away to be examined. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson's recovered from his hamstring injury and will return for their NRL encounter against the Sea Eagles in Manly on Friday. Fresh off his retirement announcement, Johnson's joining the squad in Sydney, alongside fellow returnees Luke Metcalf, Adam Pompey and Marcelo Montoya. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington high school has been forced to close after a shock finding revealed 13 classrooms are earthquake prone. Wellington Girls' College claims the Ministry of Education never informed them the Brook block only met 15 percent of earthquake standards. It's now having to roster students to work from home, while an alternative campus is organised. Principal Julia Davidson says the school can legally continue using the building, but it isn't comfortable taking the risk. "Sure, the seismic risk might be low but if that was to happen - the consequences of that would be severe." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.