Larry Williams Drive

AA has confirmed people have had to wait months to sit their driver's license test.  The Government is trying to cut the long wait time for tests, by allowing only one free resit. The last Government removed fees for resitting theory and practical tests, significantly increasing bookings. AA Chief Policy Officer Simon Douglas says they'll ease in the new rules over time. He says once the three month transition period ends, they'll monitor whether the changes have the impact they want. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Media Minister says there is a risk digital platforms will retaliate if they're forced to pay to use New Zealand news content. Paul Goldsmith has confirmed the Government is pursuing an amended version of Labour's Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. It aims to ensure internet giants like Facebook and Google pay local media companies for using their work. Goldsmith says some platforms have been clear they're not keen on the bill. "It is quite a tricky area, but we think on balance - it's worth having this as a backstop just to encourage those conversations to happen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's moves to force tech giants to support New Zealand-produced news have been met with scepticism. Fair Digital Bargaining Bill has been amended - in a bid to ensure Google and Meta pay to use news content on their platforms. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's unlikely Meta will respond well, considering the action they've taken against Australia and Canada. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has drawn criticism from the opposition over his decision to skip a NATO summit.  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will attend the meeting in Washington in his place. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese is in a no-win situation as tensions escalate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stats keep coming on Lulu Sun's advance into the second round of Wimbledon by beating eighth seed Qinwen Zheng in three sets. The victory is the first in a grand slam main draw by a New Zealand woman since Marina Erakovic made the third round on grass in 2016. The win also marks the first over a top 10 player by one of her compatriots since Erakovic beat Victoria Azarenka in 2011. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wairoa's Mayor is demanding an apology from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council after last week's flooding. The bill is expected to top $40 million, with more than 100 properties significantly damaged. The district is still recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle last year, and ratepayers are already facing a 20 percent rates rise. Mayor Craig Little says the council hasn't been able to pinpoint what went wrong. "They treat us like we're a small population, yet we're 30 percent of the land area of Hawke's Bay, 60 percent of the water mass - they do other things down there and they don't do it here." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the UK election, the Labour Party is pushing back against demand for a four-day working week. Unions have put pressure on the party to mandate shorter working weeks, as more UK workplaces adapt to unique working models. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this issue will be on the minds of voters ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building's shares have bounced back up after the business completed and handed over part of their NZ International Convention Centre project. The project is back in SkyCity's hands - with the project on track to reopen by the end of the year. Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is determined to grow the economy and ease the cost of living for struggling Kiwis as the Government outlines its next points of focus.  The Government today unveiled its third quarterly priorities - focusing on law and order, the economy, public services and infrastructure. Minister Nicola Willis says it's important for the Government to focus on making sustainable financial choices now. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 1 July 2024, Prime Manager Chris Luxon has announced his to do list for Q3- with law and order top of the list. Heather speaks to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. GPs are warning patient fees will have to rise and some clinics will have to close, because Health NZ is not funding them sufficiently. Kainga Ora Chair Simon Moutter tells Heather why the housing agency's CEO decided to quit - with a handsome payout. Business leader Rob Fyfe on his new $100m start-up and what he's learnt about New Zealand's outlook while in London. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Joe Biden needs to quit the US presidential race. 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, Trish Sherson from Sherson PR and Auckland councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Joe Biden delivered a shaky performance during last week's debate with Donald Trump - what can the Democratic Party do now? Is it time to bring in a replacement? The Government unveiled their Q3 to-do list, primarily focused on law and order. Is this the right way to unveil new policies?  Kāinga Ora's CEO has confirmed he plans to step down - what do we think of this? Is this the right move? GPs have slammed the Government's 'inadequate' funding proposal - what can be done to address this? Does more money need to be directed towards the health system? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe is set to launch his biggest - and most sustainable - business venture yet. Recorp, an aluminium canning company, is set to launch in September, with former House of Travel head Bruce Parton being appointed the inaugural CEO. Fyfe says many Kiwi companies are phasing out plastic, meaning there's room to enter a new market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kāinga Ora's Chief Executive Andrew McKenzie will be stepping down at the end of October, with a $365,000 payout. A review has found the state housing provider needs significant savings to be financially viable. Kainga Ora Chair Simon Moutter says it's the right time. "Given the extent of change going on in this organisation with the changes through the Government's budget allocations to KO and the findings of the independent review...it was only right." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you watch that Trump-Biden debate? Man, that was excruciating wasn’t it? At one point, I think it was the Medicare bit, I was literally watching it through my fingers, cause I'd already covered by face with my hands, it was that bloody awkward. The amazing thing about it is that this is day four of calls for Biden to stand down, which is an enormous amount of pressure. And there is no indication from within the top ranks of his party that they are going to make him stand down. And if you read what's going on behind the scenes, like the Saturday phone call between the top members of the Democratic Party and committee members across the states - it sounds like they don't realise how bad this looks.  The message out from all the people who were on it was that the party's top guys are not taking what happened in the debate - and the impact on the vote - seriously. They don’t realise that the world thinks the guy they’re running for President is going senile, they don’t think that’s what we can see. Not that w

There's high hopes from Santana Minerals following the revelation of unearthed gold in Central Otago. The company's discovery on the privately owned Bendigo Station land has been dubbed one of New Zealand's most significant in 40 years - with a $4.4 billion dollar lifetime export value. Santana Minerals Chief Executive Damian Spring is hopeful an investment decision will be made by the new year. "We're on track to submit our application under the RMA by the end of this year, the Fast-Track Approvals Bill would have passed by then - and it suits what we're aiming to do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GPs say a Government funding proposal is not enough. Health New Zealand is suggesting a 4 percent increase in GP capitation funding, the money each practice receives for each enrolled client - and letting them raise fees by just under 8 percent. The sector's warning some practices may go under. General Practice Chair Dr Bryan Betty says studies have shown GPs have been up to 20 percent under-funded in the past two decades. "All this does is go some way towards cost increases over the last year - it doesn't actually fix the underlying deficit, which is getting worse." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Minister says new law and order legislation will pass in the next three months, and be implemented by the end of the year. The Government has laid out 40 actions to meet its third quarterly priorities, which include the economy and better public services and infrastructure. It promises to crack down on crime by letting police ban gang patches, and confiscate firearms. Minister Paul Goldsmith says they want to work at speed, but it's important to properly follow select committee processes. "Now everybody's sort of impatient, they want the police to have the extra power to deal with gangs, they want to deal with the firearms control - but we do have to pass the legislation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's released his Government's third quarterly plan, saying the next three months will have a focus on law and order. Chris Luxon's set his side 40 actions until the end of September, including passing four laws to crackdown on criminal activity. These include legislation giving police the power to ban gang patches, as well as confiscating firearms and providing better access to rehabilitation services for prisoners on remand. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barnaby Joyce stuck to his word after he promised he would cut back on alcohol - and lost 15kgs to show for it. In February, a video surfaced of an intoxicated Joyce sprawled out on a Canberra sidewalk after a drunken night out. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Joyce was clearly embarrassed by the events of the video.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Razor's first All Blacks squad is due to face off against England in the coming days. England's already indicated they'll take the All Blacks down - and the pressure's on for the team do do well. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.