Larry Williams Drive

A 13-year-old's been charged with murder over the death of another teen in Dunedin yesterday.   Police say they've been aware for some time of anti-social behaviour at the city's Great King Street bus hub - and they arrived at the scene within one minute of the 16-year-old being stabbed.  Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich told Heather du Plessis Allan “We instigated private security patrols, which have provided more eyes on the street.”  Radich said that although private security don't have police powers, they are the eyes on the street, who provide pastoral care and give people someone to talk to.  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is removing almost a third of rubbish bins around the region to save $9.5 million over the next eight financial years.    Meanwhile, the council spent almost $147,000 dollars on a sculpture at the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway in November last year, two months before removing a bin.  Auckland Council chair of revenue expenditure Maurice Williamson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This has got to be the greatest example of a policy that was good in theory, and has been a disaster in practice.”  Williamson said “About 30 percent of the bins weren’t being used, or had an alternative bin nearby.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's budget appears to have increased under Winston Peters - despite its savings announcement today.   Peters has revealed MFAT is cutting 60-million-dollars over four years. That's less than one percent, well below the Government's 6.5 percent savings target for most ministries.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “Winston is the saviour of MFAT.”  Soper said “You may remember in 2018, he had a big argument with Grant Robertson about how MFAT needed more money - and he got just under a billion dollars.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A top competition lawyer says the anti-trust lawsuit against music promoter Live Nation, is long overdue.   The US Department of Justice is suing the Ticketmaster parent company - alleging it's holding a monopoly - as it's putting on the concerts, selling the tickets and owning the venues.  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This isn’t a surprise... I think they’ll be out a chunk of change somehow.”  Mitchinson said “Ticketmaster will usually add another $30-$70 in fees and taxes.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors’ prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been stood down for breaching team standards.  Fonua-Blake left the dressing room before the team address and song – and as a result will miss Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.   Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Heather du Plessis Allan “In terms of breaching protocol, it’s very low-end. In fact, I can’t think of anything lower.”  Pine said “But, it’s a line in the sand that has been agreed on by all the players.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water has made a $51 million dollar mistake, and is asking councils for a funding top-up.  Wellington Water board members fronted up at a committee meeting this morning, saying there will be an independent investigation.  Wellington Water CEO Tonya Haskell told Heather du Plessis Allan “In the process of coming up with those numbers, we missed our corporate overhead, which is six percent.”  Haskell said “Part of that is due to the systems, we’re waiting for new systems and water reforms.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man alive. There is a family in Dunedin doing it tough today. I mean, these guys sent their 16-year-old boy to school yesterday and he didn't come home. He was stabbed at a notoriously dangerous bus stop by a 13-year-old. What the hell, by the way, as a 13-year-old doing with a knife?  Now, that stabbing at the bus stop will have sent chills through parents up and down this country. Because the thing is: that is not just a Dunedin problem, it’s an every part of the country problem. And we have for a few years now been warning that kids are beating each other up at bus stops at places like Rotorua, Tauranga, New Lynn, Pukekohe, Albany, Dunedin....And now the worst thing that could possibly happen has happened.   The warnings have clearly just not been taken seriously enough by authorities. Even that bus stop, by the way, there have been assaults on kids by kids since at least 2021, right? That's the last three years and we've been aware of that. And there have been calls for police to do something about it. An

Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4. Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copper prices have surged this year by 25 percent, according to new data. Copper has a broad level of demand, with plenty of industries relying on this commodity. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains how copper can be a barometer of the human economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwifruit producer Zespri’s profit has dropped 27 per cent but growers have been paid record prices for their output. Zespri reported a net profit after tax of $173.3 million for the 2023-24 financial year - down from $238.7m the year prior. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week ahead of this year's Budget day, the Finance Minister has warned Kiwis shouldn't expect too much. Minister Nicola Willis warned the Government faces a significant structural deficit of $6 billion a year - and changes will need to be made to fix that. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains how this warning could potentially impact the upcoming budget reveal.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister turned up to readjust expectations ahead of this year's Budget. Addressing the Employers and Manufacturers Association in Auckland this afternoon, Nicola Willis has warned the Government faces a structural deficit. That's the fact Government spending has way exceeded tax revenue, and it's projected to continue without significant spending reforms. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains how this update will impact next week's Budget reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns from epidemiologists as the threat of bird flu rears its head.  Australia has recorded its first human case of the H5N1 strain, in a child returning to Victoria from India. Another case was later found in an egg farm within the region. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says both of these cases have been dealt with - but it's still a concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney has found himself caught in a storm of backlash over a hot-mic comment. Penney was picked up using a derogatory term to describe a reporter after responding to questions about his performance and future with the side losing 10 out of 12 games this season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 May 2024, the Government's unveiled its mining strategy and it sounds very much like "drill, baby, drill". Patrick Phelps from Minerals West Coast tells Heather about the opportunities that lie in the ground. Former defence advisor for French President Emmanuel Macron, General Dominique Trinquand, explains how the French President is trying to smooth the situation in New Caledonia. Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge apologises after his coach called a reporter the c-word. Plus the Huddle debates why teachers are so useless at math and science - and whether we should liberate the c-word? 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, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and TV3 broadcaster Paddy Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! More experts and advocates have voiced support for Minister Shane Jones' plan to boost mining efforts and remove red tape. Is this a good idea - or is it giving people false hope? Crusaders coach Rob Penney is under fire for using derogatory language to describe a sports reporter - what do we make of this? New data has revealed a quarter of primary teachers didn't achieve NCEA level one maths and over half failed level one science. How alarming are these statistics? What can we do to alleviate this? LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has called out the nation's biggest banks over their profit margins and lack of competition The banks have since claimed their margins in New Zealand are bigger than they are overseas - thanks to certain capital requirements. KPMG partner John Kensington says Orr's comments were a little harsh - but more competition is needed for the sector. "Think back five years ago - it was hard to change your telco or your power company. Now that's easy. So open banking, if people adopt it and people can be bothered changing their banks, will lead to more people changing their banks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high in New Caledonia, as France's President meets officials in the region. The violence is over voting reforms that indigenous Kanaks say would dilute their vote - and undermine their struggle for independence. Six people have died and new barricades have been appearing across the capital. Emmanuel Macron's former Defence Advisor, Dominique Trinquand says things are still very tense. "The French President will spend 24 hours there, to try to sort out and calm down the situation. But until then, it will be very difficult to move from Noumea to the airport." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advocates and experts are supporting the resource minister's plan to cut barriers to mining. Shane Jones has outlined a draft strategy for the industry. He wants a stock-take of available minerals and to double export value in 10 years. Minerals West Coast manager Patrick Phelps says you could get a feel for New Zealand's resources within a year or two. "There's quite substantial gold mines being talked about in Otago, West Coast and Coromandel - which, if they're all up online within five or ten years, could double, if not triple New Zealand's gold production."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crusader chief executive Colin Mansbridge has offered a defence after their coach was scrutinised after their ten-loss Super Rugby season. Coach Rob Penney is in hot water after getting caught referring to a journalist in a derogatory manner after facing questions over his future in the role. Penney's apologised to Mansbridge - who in turn apologised to the reporter. Mansbridge says Penney's apology for his actions was satisfactory. "I'm not sure what Rob could say now - he's got a job and he's preparing athletes for a game, another one of those exciting clashes on Saturday." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.