Larry Williams Drive

Two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station have been told they will be stuck in space indefinitely.  Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams travelled up to the orbiting lab in Boeing’s space capsule seven weeks ago, and were meant to spend a week there.  The delay in their return is due to ongoing repairs on the capsule.  Stardome astronomer Josh Eoraki joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kardashians season finale that aired last night featured some New Zealand research.  Kim Kardashian, as well as her sister, mother and brother-in-law, all took a test that determined their real biological age, with Kardashian coming in 10 years younger than what she thought she was.  The science behind the test is an algorithm developed by scientists of the Dunedin Study.  The Dunedin Study director Dr Moana Theodore joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of policing is in question as Andrew Coster's tenure as Police Commissioner comes to a close.   Police say Coster's time in the job will end April next year.   Crime Prevention Group President Sunny Kaushal told Heather Du Plessis-Allan he's hoping for a commissioner with a new approach.   He says all crime must be taken seriously and properly investigated - no matter how small.  “Police must attend every burglary. That sends a message that the Police have their back and burglars won’t get away with it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Team New Zealand is preparing for tomorrow's unique Olympic opening ceremony.   Instead of the usual walk round the track the Paris games will buck the trend by having athletes boating down the Seine.  Lady Gaga and Celine Dion are set to perform a duet at the opening ceremony.   New Zealand Team Chef de Mission Nigel Avery told Heather du Plessis-Allan despite the change in tradition, they're not worried about safety.  “The French are just going out of their way to make sure that the athletes are safe in all respects, and I’ve got confidence in that.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders seem to be eyeing the upcoming US election with apprehension.   New polling from Talbot Mills shows about 75 percent of New Zealanders are concerned about the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency.   Half of respondents say they are either extremely concerned - or very concerned.   Political editor Jason Walls told Heather du Plessis-Allan the survey unfortunately does not ask the question as to why people are so worried.  “In the past, people have talked about Donald Trump’s rhetoric, and tangibly, the biggest thing that New Zealanders would have to be worried about is increased trade tariffs to the United States.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris has pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.  “It is time for this war to end,” Harris said in a televised statement after she held face-to-face talks with Netanyahu.  Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after Biden dropped out of the election race on Monday, did not mince words about the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza after nine months of war between Israel and Hamas militants.  “We cannot allow ourselves to be numb to the suffering and I will not be silent,” she said.  Harris’ remarks were sharp and serious in tone and raised the question of whether she would be more aggressive in dealing with Netanyahu if elected president on November 5. But analysts do not expect there would be a major shift in US policy toward Israel, Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East.  The conflict began on October 7 when Hama

Canadian women’s football coach Beverly Priestman has been sent home from the Olympics in wake of the side’s 2-1 win over the Football Ferns.  It comes after the Canadians were caught using drones to spy on the Ferns’ training sessions, but Canada Soccer has revealed their use of drones goes well before Paris.  Meanwhile, the All Blacks Sevens team's chance for Olympic Gold has been dashed after losing 14-7 to South Africa in the quarterfinals.  Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water's Chair says the board's committed to improving the organisation in the wake of a scathing review.   The report looked into a $51 million blunder which saw the agency tell councils they needed less funding than they actually did.   It found a lack of leadership in the agency and issues with its organisational culture.   Nick Leggett told Heather du Plessis Allan there's lessons to be learned.  “We’ve got to improve the culture, we’ve got to elevate problems as they come up and be upfront and frank about them, and we’ve got to improve our systems – particularly in the finance part of the business.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So Andrew Coster has revealed he will not be seeking a second term as Police Commissioner.   Which will upset...almost no one.  I think most of us will be happy to see the back of him.  Because while he does seem like a decent and smart guy, he has been rubbish at the job.  This will be good for Police morale, I think, because they have been quite vocal about the fact that they have been unhappy being led by a man who doesn’t seem to actually want to chase down the bad guys quite as much as they do.  And it will be good for public confidence too because I think we would also prefer a Police boss who wants to lock up the perpetrators of this current crime problem we’re experiencing.   Now to be fair to Andrew Coster, the fact that he’s not seeking a second term isn't really that unusual in Police bosses - we haven’t had one go longer than six years since the 1940s.  But the trouble for him is that we all know at least part of the reason he’s going is because he isn’t wanted.  I mean, that was made abundantly c

A group of 10 Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of attempting to interfere with operations. The group were quickly detained and taken into custody after members had hinted they were planning an 'uprising'. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney says the group may have been planning to glue themselves to the tarmac to directly stop flights from departing one of the world's busiest airports. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's outrage from New Zealand's rural community over Otago Regional Council's lack of transparency. The council has refused to unveil the latest draft of their Land and Water Plan, despite calls from Federated Farmers to release it. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's share market is taking a turn for the better. New data indicates the NZX 50 has gone up by almost 6 percent in the past month - and economists are feeling optimistic about this reporting season. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains this change in direction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 25 July 2024, survivors of abuse in care are now looking to police to prosecute those who have been involved in abusing kids and young people over decades. Canadian journalist Sarah Leavitt speaks to Heather from the Olympics after Canada's spying scandal against New Zealand just got even worse. Former top Democrat Howard Dean tells Heather why he thinks Joe Biden's Oval Office address hit the right tone - and what Kamala Harris needs to do to beat Donald Trump. Plus 1 in 5 young people have hearing issues. The Huddle debates whether we need to all turn down the volume on our headphones a bit. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Radio Hauraki's Matt Heath joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Canada has copped backlash from all over the world after it was revealed they were spying on two separate Football Ferns training sessions ahead of the Olympics. Should the team get punished? There's growing calls to compensate victims following the Royal Commission of Inquiry's findings on abuse in state and faith-based care. Is this the way to go? Republican politicians have labelled Kamala Harris a 'diversity hire' in their efforts to tear down the Democratic Party. Is this seriously a political strategy? New research has revealed more and more young people suffer from preventable hearing loss. How can we intervene early?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden stepped up to protect his administration's legacy in today's Oval Office address. The US President has explained why he stepped out of the race and endorsed Kamala Harris for President this week. He'd remained staunch against withdrawing for three weeks despite vast pressure and concern from those close to him about his ability to serve another term. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean says it's 'incredibly painful' to recognise the dream is over when you're as far along as he was. "I think he's a guy of tremendous accomplishments. Is he a guy of tremendous ambition? Sure, but it's pretty easy to forgive that when you're the President of the United States." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand and Australia will go their own way when it comes to infant formula regulation. Ministers of both nations met today to discuss a controversial food-safety proposal which would impact product labels and sales. It's understood Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard sought a review over the proposal - but failed. Infant Nutrition Council CEO Jonathan Chew says Australia has accepted the proposal as-is. "New Zealand will exercise its right to seek its own modifications for the standards relating to the labelling issue - and possibly the restriction of sales." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's calls for more transparency from Otago Regional Council about the impacts and costs of new freshwater rules. Federated Farmers Otago has written to councillors, district Mayors, and ministers demanding the latest draft of the council's Land and Water Plan be made public. President Luke Kane says a secretive consultation process has left the community in the dark. "We understand that some of the district councils are really concerned with these rules - obviously, everybody is in a financial pinch at the moment, especially councils deciding how and where to spend their money." Otago regional council says it believes it's had an open process, with meetings across Otago. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concerns youth hearing loss could be at an all-time high. Globally, one in five young people have been diagnosed with hearing issues - and the WHO has predicted over one billion young adults risk permanent avoidable hearing loss. National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing CEO Natasha Gallardo says the problem stems from prolonged use of loud headphones and personal devices. "It's mainly whether or not that tinnitus is ongoing - and really, what are your listening habits? Are they contributing to that tinnitus and the potential for that to become permanent?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for disciplinary action against Canada following new developments in their spying scandal. FIFA confirmed proceedings have been opened after support staff were caught flying a drone over two Football Ferns training sessions ahead of tomorrow's match in St Etienne. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Sarah Leavitt says this has brought shame to Canadian football fans ahead of the match. "Lots of people are worried and wondering why this even happened in the first place." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivors want police action following yesterday's damning abuse in care report. The Royal Commission of Inquiry estimates about 200,000 people were neglected and abused in state and faith based institutions between 1950 and 2019. The Commission's made 138 recommendations - including redress, removing care from state hands, and police investigation. Abuse survivor Jim Goodwin says there are several reasons police didn't act back then. "In the early days, the cops weren't resourced to do it, they didn't know how to interview people for sexual offending, they didn't know how to interview survivors - they're much better at it now - and survivors didn't come forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.