Larry Williams Drive

An international relations professor believes the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh brings considerable risks to Israel. Hamas has released a statement, saying the 62-year-old was killed in an Israeli 'raid' on his home in Tehran. Iranian analysts have immediately blamed Israel for the attack, but Israel is yet to officially comment. Otago University professor Robert Patman, says Haniyeh was one of the top negotiators in the hostage talks in Qatar. "To take him out sends a signal that perhaps Netanyahu puts the fate of the hostages somewhat below his concerns to annihilate or eradicate Hamas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former chair of Health New Zealand says health crisis solutions won't be found in hospitals. The health agency's appointed four deputy chief executives to be accountable for regional hospital services and budgets. The Government last week appointed a Commissioner to take over its board, citing cost blow-outs. Former chair Rob Campbell says hospitals are important - but they are the end stage of the healthcare. "We need to be getting far more attention to both preventative health - public health measures for example - and to primary care, again the GPs and the other local services." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From today, strict loan affordability regulations are gone from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, henceforth known as the CCCFA. This ends the bizarre inquisitions into your personal life the banks indulged in before denying you a loan. This is good news for first home buyers, obviously, but the people most affected were those trying to get smaller loans. The grilling you got to get that $5,000 you needed to fix a leak hopefully is over. The loan to value ratio rules have also eased, so again, good news for the first home buyers and investors. So how green are these green shoots in the housing market? Well, one report says that - 'home ownership for typical first home buyers has gone from being solidly in unaffordable territory at the start of the year to just marginally unaffordable in June'. Happy days- but still tough. Meanwhile, it turns out that first home buyers are increasingly buying townhouses. Townhouses made up just 6 percent of all new dwelling consents in 2012, now they account for 4

The acting head of the Secret Service was grilled in a lengthy hearing about the security failures that led to Donald Trump getting wounded during the infamous Pennsylvania rally. At a lengthy US Senate hearing, Ronald Rowe outlined the ongoing investigation into the incident, including the lapses that led to the shooting. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson said the hearing became quite tense, with plenty of shouting across the courtroom. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concerns from expert as the Government rolls back some restrictions needed to take out a loan. From today, The Government has removed affordability regulations from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act and updated the Responsible Lending Code. Money Sweetspot co-founder and CEO Sasha Lockley says relaxing these requirements means more people are at risk of getting into debt that they can't afford to pay back. "People believe what banks and finance companies tell them around affordability...and if you go to some of the bad actors in this financial system, they may say - yes, absolutely you can afford it, when actually, people can't." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 12 years of playing international rugby, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is craving normality. The 33-year-old Black Ferns sevens star is retiring from the international game with two Olympics golds and a silver following her latest Paris triumph. Woodman-Wickliffe scored more than a try a game in almost 250 sevens appearances for New Zealand - but she's happy to step back from the spotlight. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two children have been killed and nine others injured after a deadly stabbing attack in Southport, north of Liverpool. Six young victims have been left in critical condition and police have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney says Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the King and Queen are among those who have sent their sympathies to the victims of the attack.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's highly-anticipated tax cuts are set to kick in from tomorrow.  Despite initial concerns about inflation, Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hopeful these cuts won't have an impact.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains whether or not these changes will bring inflation back up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long-serving agri-business journalist David Anderson died aged 57 in Timaru on Friday. Due to illness, Anderson had stepped down as managing editor with Rural News in April. The Country's Jamie Mackay pays tribute to him here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is ditching its carbon intensity reduction targets and will withdraw from the Science Based Targets initiative.  It planned to cut carbon intensity 28.9 percent by 2030 - but blamed a lack of fuel-efficient planes and the costs of alternative fuel for this shift in priorities. NIWA climate scientist Sam Dean says Air New Zealand didn't have a lot of choice in this situation. "Fundamentally, their business is about flying planes. And as they openly said - they're dependent on a whole lot of things that are out of their control." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 30 July 2024, court reporter Chelsea Daniels recaps what Philip Polkinghorne told police about what happened the night before his wife died. The triathlon at the Olympics has been postponed just hours before it was due to start because of bad water quality. Gold medal favourite Hayden Wilde's coach Craig Kirkwood tells Andrew how Hayden reacted when he heard the news. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello responds to news that the Government has set aside $216 million to fund a cut to tobacco taxes. Plus, the Huddle debates whether the Film Commission's big party bill is appropriate during these times of cost cuttings. 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 Associate Health Minister says the $216 million set aside to fund tax cuts for tobacco products is unlikely to end up costing that much. The Government has implemented a 50 percent cut to the excise tax on heated tobacco products - which are viewed as an alternative to vaping and traditional cigarettes. Minister Casey Costello says the modelling had been based on Japan's use of heated tobacco products, which wouldn't match New Zealand. "To put some perspective - we're talking about, in total, smokeless tobacco products in 2023 was about $6 million worth of excise. HTP is only a small component of that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes new flight technology will give aviation a needed boost. Two new satellite dishes now operating in Invercargill will collect data used to improve GPS accuracy. It will let pilots land planes in weather conditions currently deemed too dangerous for some flights. Land Information Minister Chris Penk says the days of waiting around for fog to clear may well be over. "As the technology improves over time and we get refined positions with various repeater stations around New Zealand and Australia, the possibilities just become endless."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hayden Wilde's coach is hoping for a better forecast tomorrow after a postponement stopped him in his tracks.  The men's triathlon event, originally scheduled for 6pm tonight, has been delayed to 8.45pm tomorrow due to the Seine failing water quality tests this afternoon. Craig Kirkwood won't deny this is frustrating - but he was prepared for this. "We've had two days of fine weather and we're onto our third, so hopefully this is the last of the high E.coli levels." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's High Court has heard from those first on scene - where Pauline Hanna was found dead. Auckland eye surgeon Phillip Polkinghorne is accused of killing Hanna at their Remuera home in 2021. The defence says she took her own life. ZB reporter Chelsea Daniels is attending the trial. She says the court's heard about Polkinghorne's immediate reaction after Hanna's death. "St John paramedic Hannah Matheson was one of the first ambulance members at the scene - she told barrister Brian Dickey that as she was asking him questions about the morning's events, he seemed calm." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Film Commission has copped some backlash after they spent over $16,000 on four events amid proposed budget cuts. Is this outrage justified? Are we concerned about New Zealand's lack of medals at the Olympics - or do we need to be patient?  McDonalds is grappling with falling sales. Do they just need to become cheaper again? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Film Commission is facing heavy scrutiny for its celebratory spending. It's been revealed it spent close to $17,000 on four parties last year - welcoming and farewelling incoming and departing chief executives. Jordan Williams from the the Taxpayer's Union says anyone trying to do that in the private sector would be marched down the road. He says he highly doubts the last Government would defend it. "The whole point of this agency, as best we can tell, is to use taxpayer-funded champagne to coax another Lord of the Rings. But they're not even doing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An apology's been made in the House, over a comment labelled 'racist' and unacceptable. Green MP Ricardo Menendez-March, who is originally from Mexico, was speaking to a question on boot camps when Trade Minister Todd McClay interjected. Menendez-March says McClay told him 'you're not in Mexico now, we don't do things like that here', and Speaker Gerry Brownlee questioned McClay if that was true. He suggested McClay withdraw and apologise, which he did. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this was a 'stupid' comment on Todd McClay's part. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls to sack Barnaby Joyce following some colourful comments he made at a recent protest.  Joyce told protesters attending an anti-wind farm rally to 'get ready to load that magazine' and vote out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's unlikely Joyce will be fired over these comments. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pollution levels in the Seine have forced the Olympic organisers to postpone men's triathlon. The event was set for 6pm this evening - and has been pushed back to 8:45pm tomorrow night, straight after the women's event. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains how this delay will impact the Olympics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.