Larry Williams Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has softened their hard-line ban on transgender athletes in community sport to be more inclusive - do we agree with this move? Over 80 Kiwi principals are spending the week at a taxpayer-funded professional development course in Fiji. Is this good value for money - or are we just funding an overpriced holiday for them?   Kiwi women are struggling under an ongoing HRT shortage, according to new data. Pharmac expects this to continue on until 2025 - is this acceptable? Nicola Willis hopes to introduce financial incentives for public sector chief executives - will this work?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 18 June 2024, Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina speaks to Heather after five incidents of homes being shot at in Auckland over the past few weeks. The mother of the missing Marokopa children has broken her silence. She wants her babies home and calls what her ex-partner Tom Philipps is doing "child abuse". 80 principals are poolside this week in Fiji - thanks to the taxpayer. It's all in the name of professional development but the Taxpayer's Union says it's just a glorified holiday. The Huddle debates transgender athletes in community sports and how Ali is dealing with the shortage of HRT patches. Plus, the six things to make you mentally stronger - according to some rubbish list from America. 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.

Racing Minister Winston Peters has confirmed he's in no hurry to make a call whether or not to ban greyhound racing. Appearing before a select committee, Peters claimed he wanted to wait at least a year to make a decision - and had no interest in making a 'careless' choice. Peters says he ran the risk of being called to account if he rushed the process of a potential ban. "I've got people surveying the scene on a weekly basis, finding out what is happening and whether there are improvements - and in a time, very soon, in the next few months, we'll have a very clear picture." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi women have been forced to shop around or ration their existing HRT supply amid an ongoing shortage. A new survey has revealed insights from the women affected by the dwindling supply, and Pharmac has warned the situation is likely to continue into 2025. Hawke’s Bay GP Dr Samantha Newman says pharmacies are unable to keep a steady supply going, as much of the medication is unfunded. "The really big issue here in New Zealand is - there's no other option. So it's either patches or nothing that's funded." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of buy now, pay later provider Laybuy is being described as sad by experts. The company has been put into receivership and services have been suspended.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says the sector has been impacted by decreased spending and reduced consumer confidence. "We are in a really difficult environment in terms of retail... people just don't have the money in their wallets, and they're not prepared, cause they're buying on credit." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School principals have taken togs and snorkels along for a five-day leadership trip in Fiji. It's one of many to hit the market since principals got a $6,000 salary boost for professional development and wellbeing. It's prompted debate on whether they're valuable for leadership - or an opportunity to have a taxpayer-funded overseas holiday. The Taxpayers Union's Jordan Williams says it's not a good look. "It's two easy mornings of actual professional development, and the rest is sitting next to your private pool." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On principle, I like Nicola Willis' idea of performance pay for the chief executives in the public sector. It's actually not a new idea, we were doing it until Jacinda's lot got in and Chris Hipkins, the then-relevant minister, cancelled it. And it was pretty generous, up 15 percent on top of base pay. Since some of those guys in the public sector get paid close to $700,00 a year, that's another $100,000 if they strike their targets.We'll just have to see if it works or not, but a cursory look at performance would say it might have an impact. Because the public sector was running a lot better before Jacinda when they had performance pay, than it was under Jacinda without it.But generally, it’s a smart idea to try to get the public sector to run a bit more like the private sector. And this is pretty standard for a private sector CEO. The reason I say that is because the private sector is simply better at what it does than the public sector. Take a business that makes widgets, for example - its job is to make t

Police are investigating several residential Auckland homes following five shootings in recent weeks. Two were last night in South Auckland, and the others happened within the last couple of weeks. South Auckland Councillor and former police officer Alf Filipaina says this shouldn't be the new normal. "It's just disgusting what's happening... whether it's gang related or not, people just realise that one of their relatives could well be shot." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no reprieve for Australian borrowers just yet, as the Reserve Bank decided to leave rates on hold. Australia's Official Cash Rate was held steady at 4.35 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says people are screaming for relief - but the Bank is determined to bring inflation down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been confirmed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will return to the centres for the Warriors' NRL visit to the Titans on the Gold Coast.He's been out with a hamstring injury for over a month. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this update. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's increased support for efforts to trim court waiting times. The Chief District Court Judge has introduced protocols to speed proceedings, including time targets based on a crime's seriousness. Lawyer Steve Cullen says about 81 percent of cases meet targets, against a goal of 90 percent. He says setting up some cases can be a challenge. "You're dealing with people in the criminal sphere who often have reasons to opt for delay, whether it be the fact that they've got other cases on foot, or they've got their own personal issues that mean they don't want the matter progressed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 17 June 2024, it has been an embarrassing start to the Prime Minister's trip to Japan - after the Defence Force plane carrying the delegation broke down. Political Correspondent Jason Walls speaks to Heather from the centre of the drama - and later in the show Heather asks Finance Minister Nicola Willis whether it's time to buy a new plane.    Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson has revealed she's been diagnosed with breastcancer. Ah-Leen Rayner from the Breast Cancer Foundation says she hopes more women will get themselves checked as a result of the news.  Plus the Huddle debates the Government's new plans to allow granny flats to be built without a building consent.  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 BBC has reported that the Greek coastguard caused the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean.  This happened over a three-year period, witnesses say, including nine who were deliberately thrown into the water.  BBC analysis found that more than 40 people alleged to have died.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Heather du Plessis-Allan “The Greek government has long been accused of ‘forced returns’- which is illegal under international law.”  Grey said “The European Union has had some 263,000 sea arrivals in the last year alone – with Greece receiving 41,000.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National promised in the last election to allow foreigners to buy $2m-plus properties - reversing a ban introduced by the previous Labour government – with exceptions for Australians and Singaporeans.  However, this was vetoed by National’s coalition partner - New Zealand First.  Sotheby's NZ Managing Director Mark Harris told Heather du Plessis-Allan “New Zealand’s always been of interest – but there’s definitely been a lot of interest of late.”  Harris said “We’re half-expecting that there might be an announcement that there might be some easing of the foreign buyer rule.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Service sector activity has plummeted to its lowest level outside the Covid lockdowns.  The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Services Index (PSI) fell 3.6 points in May to 43.0.  Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Heather du Plessis-Allan “It’s consistent with other data – like profit margins being below pre-Covid rates.”  Hope said “Corporate insolvencies are around the same level as during the GFC – it's a pretty tough time.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle: Sherson Willis PR’s Trish Sherson and Child Fund’s Josie Pagani.  There’s some unanswered questions about the cost of commercial flights  to Japan for Prime Minister Chris Luxon and his delegation.  Their Defence Force plane broke down yesterday in Papua New Guinea -- the latest in a string of issues.  Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters was asked if it's fair the taxpayer has to pick up the tab.   Peters said “In an emergency, you take emergency action.”  Josie Pagani told Heather du Plessis-Allan “The Prime Minister is the PR frontperson – but the work is the people with the Prime Minister.”  Pagani said “This is an absolute disaster, really.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's Chair says the airline's done its best to help with the Defence Force plane's failure.   The Prime Minister's business delegation flight broke down yesterday in Papua New Guinea, en route to Japan.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan “We’ve got a defence capability review under way – that includes being able to quickly get to the Pacific and around the world to help out after disasters.”  Willis said “That’s likely to include a plane capability.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s proposing changes to the Resource Management Act and the Building Act – to help make it easier to build granny flats.   This follows a commitment in the National-NZ First coalition agreement, which requires the government to " Make it easier to build granny flats or other small structures up to 60 square metres, requiring only an engineer's report".  Housing Minister Chris Bishop told Heather du Plessis-Allan “I think it’s going to appeal to a lot of different people – it's about housing supply.”  Bishop said “These are structures designed to get more people into warm, dry houses.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netsafe has launched an AI chat bot that will scam scammers.   It lets people forward suspicious emails to Netsafe - which uses Chat GPT to start a never-ending conversation with the scammer.  ReScam's first version was launched a few years ago, allowing simple exchanges.  Netsafe CEO Brent Carey told Heather du Plessis-Allan “We've wasted six days of scammers time." Carey said "I've got one on the hook -  we're up to 62 back and forwards." LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson says she's feeling grateful that her breast cancer will be treated - and she has the care and support to focus on it.  Davidson will work up until Matariki, before a partial mastectomy next month and further treatment.  Breast Cancer Foundation Chief Executive Ah-Leen Rayner told Heather du Plessis-Allan “We take it for granted in metropolitan areas that screening is readily accessible.”  Rayner said that for people living rurally - if you miss mobile-unit screenings, some may have to travel up to three hours.  She said "It's not equitable in terms of access." LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.