Larry Williams Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and Capital Director Ben Thomas joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A new report by Independent Children's Monitor says the child protection system has not shifted enough since the death of Tauranga five-year-old Malachi Subecz - despite a 2022 review recommending sweeping changes. How appalling is this? How are we finding the Olympics so far? What did we think of last night's triathlon? Two women were trespassed from an Auckland movie theatre after they got caught bringing in hot food, snacks and beverages. Should the restrictions banning outside food be lifted? What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Briscoe Group Limited has posted a near record net profit after tax of $84.2 million for the year ending January 28, 2024. The group, which runs both Briscoes and Rebel Sport, says profits have nearly reached the $88.4 million record set last year - despite a tough economic climate impacting the retail sector.  Briscoe Group Managing Director Rod Duke says more customers have gravitated to the group's output in recent months. "The strategy's unchanged - and when we do that, we tell a lot of people that we're going to do it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Government agencies are being urged to get on with changes to child protections. A review in 2022 after Tauranga five-year-old Malachi Subecz was murdered recommended sweeping changes. The Independent Children's Monitor says they haven't happened, and children are no safer today than when Malachi died. Chief Executive Arrun Jones says these findings are disappointing. "We'd hoped to see more progress, so it's disappointing not to have seen that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four New Zealand rowing crews have the chance to supercharge the country's slow start in day six action at the Paris Olympics. Both double sculls duos and both coxless four combinations contest their respective finals from 9pm tonight. Former Olympic rower Eric Murray says Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors are likely to bring home a gold medal for women's rowing. "Going off paper, they are the fastest qualifiers - and I think they're finding themselves in a position they wouldn't have expected." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Union says judges let too many high-level drug offenders off easy. A meth bust in Hawke's Bay and Gisborne in 2021 ended with the arrests of 15 - but only five went to jail. Police Association president Chris Cahill says the problem is sentence discounts. He says one person who imported 4 kilos of meth got five different discounts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transpower says it's looking at what it can do for wider Northland after its fallen pylon caused a widespread power outage. An investigation has found contractor Omexom's team leader was distracted sandblasting, as unsupervised inexperienced workers removed the bolts from three legs at once. Residents can contact their retailer about compensation - but Transpower says it can't compensate businesses. Acting CEO John Clarke says they've spoken with Northland MP Grant McCallum. "We will be talking with him and other leaders... they may make an announcement of how we can support the community in some way, given the challenges that they have faced." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party's discipline of Julie Anne Genter's come into question, compared with the departure of Darleen Tana and Elizabeth Kerekere last year. Genter's been forced to apologise to the House, after crossing the floor in May and yelling in the face of a National Minister. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper predicted Genter wouldn't receive much punishment in the first place. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two people have been found dead on a boat in Sydney's north. The bodies of the man and the woman were discovered on Wednesday evening after authorities investigated a mooring at Tunks Park, Cammeray.   Australian correspondent Murray Olds says investigations are still ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hayden Wilde has earned a silver medal after getting overtaken by long-time British rival Alex Yee around 200 metres from the end of the men's Olympic triathlon. Compatriot Dylan McCullough produced a selfless effort to drag Wilde back into the race on the bike after he was more than a minute down on the swim. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the victory further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Ministry of Health review three years after euthanasia became legal might re-ignite debate. The Ministry is asking people to share their thoughts on the Act. It says 344 people had an assisted death in the year to March 31. General Practice NZ chair, Bryan Betty, says the Act is working as designed. But he says some groups and people still strongly oppose it, despite its rigorous safeguards. "The reason for doing a review like that is to uncover those types of issues and to see how this has been operating - and if there are any things there that we should be thinking about going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A vigil for the victims of this week's deadly stabbing in Southport was disrupted by protestors, resulting in destruction and injuries. Protesters, believed to be supporters of the far-right English Defence League, threw bricks at a local mosque, set vehicles on fire and threw bottles and bricks at police. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says unconfirmed reports about the 17-year-old behind the attack may have prompted this attack. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New home consents have fallen to the lowest point in five years. Stats NZ figures show fewer than 34,000 new homes were consented in the year to June - a 24 percent fall annually. Consents for multi-unit homes, including townhouses, apartments, retirement village units and flats are down 28 percent. Construction sector advisor Mike Blackburn says this downturn has impacted the whole country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US-based frozen potato giant Lamb Weston's profits have been dropping, off the back of a rocky financial period for the company. This is off the back of the company's shares falling almost 50 percent over the course of 2024. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor unpacks this downturn. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has claimed there are upsides and downsides to the Government's changes to finance laws. From today, the Government is dropping prescriptive affordability regulations from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. NZ Herald Wellington business editor explains whether these changes will make it easier on Kiwis looking to buy their first home. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday July 31, one expert joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the risks that come with the Government's moves to roll back the hurdles needed to get a loan. Former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell says hospitals are important - but it's essential to ensure preventative health services are properly funded. International relations expert Robert Patman explained how the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh puts Israel in a risky position. Plus, the Huddle debates whether the Seine is truly safe to swim in ahead of tonight's Olympics triathlons. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT Party's had a stoush with the Speaker of the House - over a party lapel pin. During Question Time, ACT's Todd Stephens was denied his question after refusing to remove the pin, under Parliament rules forbidding party logos. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighs in on the 'pin-gate' controversy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Media Insider's Shayne Currie and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New developments in the Polkinghorne murder trial, with the case featuring testimony around an orange rope found in the Remuera home where the incident happened. What do we make of this? Health NZ has appointed four new deputy chief executives, who will hold budgets and accountability for regional hospital services. Do we need these changes? Over in Paris, the delayed men's triathlon is set to take place tonight after pollution in the Seine stopped athletes in their tracks yesterday. Is this safe? There's more job cuts today, as over 100 positions are set to be axed at GNS science. Is this the right move? LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The costs of sending Kiwi exports overseas has risen significantly amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea. A report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said global shipping rates have nearly doubled since late April - but they remain below the peak reached during the Covid pandemic. Export NZ executive director Josh Tan says this is an 'external shock' that runs the risk of impacting inflation.  "We're impacted by what is happening around the world - so this certainly qualifies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The men's triathlon is finally set to begin, after safety concerns stopped the athletes in their tracks. Hayden Wilde and Dylan McCullough are poised to compete in the men's event tonight after it was postponed yesterday due to water pollution. Olympic commentator Lavina Good says technicians have tested the water in the Seine and assured the athletes that the bacteria levels are fine. "The French authorities here have spent $1.5 billion on making sure that the water quality is suitable for the triathlon." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day three of Phillip Polkinghorne's murder trial has featured testimony around an orange rope and investigations after the death. Polkinghorne is accused of killing his wife, Pauline Hanna, in 2021 with debate in court today about a rope found on scene. The Crown claims the rope hadn't enough tension for Hanna to use it take her life,  but the defence says Polkinghorne loosened it when he found her. ZB reporter Chelsea Daniels says the jury also heard about the intensive search of the Remuera home. "Police scoured every one of the 370 square meters of that Upland Road home. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, the library, the kitchen, the study, the laundry - everything." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.