Larry Williams Drive

Coastguard and Surf Life Saving New Zealand will get an extra 63.6 million dollars in funding over the next four years.   The money would be divided as $19m for Coastguard and $44m for Surf Life Saving NZ.  Coastguard CEO Callum Gillespie told Heather du Plessis Allan “We’re going to spend it on our volunteers.”  Gillespie said “We’ve got 2,200 amazing volunteers across the country – they give vast amounts of their time and energy to keeping New Zealanders safe.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse CEO Nick Grayston has quit, effective immediately.   The board is looking for a replacement, and Board Chair Joan Withers said fresh energy is needed.   Devon Funds Head of Retail, Greg Smith told heather du Plessis Allan “It’s not a surprise, truth be told it hasn’t been working for some time.”  Smith said “It’s tough out there for retailers.  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Sky Stadium is officially a sell-out for tomorrow’s A-League football semi-final between the Phoenix and Melbourne Victory.  The Nix may make their first-ever A-League final in the club’s history.   Former Wellington Phoenix player Paul Ifill told Heather du Plessis Allan “They’ve been doubting all season by everybody, but now they’ve found themselves one game away.”  Ifill said “On the day, anything can happen, and it may go to penalties.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Huia, the Waikato to Auckland commuter train will continue to be funded by NZTA at reduced rate.   Waikato councils will soon be deciding how they will help fund the Te Huia train service between Hamilton and Auckland.   NZTA's committed around 12 million dollars from the National Land Transport fund to extend the service until April 2026.  NZTA Chief Executive Nicole Rosie told Heather du Plessis Allan “The service is slightly under its passenger numbers, and punctuality.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over one million trays of kiwifruit found on a Zespri shipment with a mouse infestation will be destroyed. After mice were found on the company's first shipment to Europe for the season, the company worked to salvage what they could. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the extent of the damage.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASB is the latest major New Zealand bank to drop their mortgage interest rates for three and four year terms. This follows BNZ and Kiwibank bringing down their interest rates, as wholesale rates have trended down. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains why these banks are making these moves, despite the RBNZ holding rates steady. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Zelenskyy has postponed all foreign trips as Russia launches its' most serious border incursion since the start of the war. Ukrainian forces have pulled back from two strategic points in the Kharkiv region in order to avoid 'unnecessary' losses, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. New Voice of Ukraine editor Euan MacDonald says this is the result of US aid being held up over the past six months. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a couple days after the Australian Budget, and some groups have lucked out after the big day. Between tax cuts, the energy rebate and the financial boost for renewable energy manufacturing businesses, some feel that the Government has 'splashed the cash'.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Opposition will still have other aspects of the Budget to pick apart. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 16 May 2024, Green MP Darleen Tana has now been absent from Parliament as many days as she attended this year while her party investigates worker exploitation accusations. But former employees say they're still waiting for their money. Fonterra is set to make a huge change to its business, looking to sell off large parts of its overseas operations and even well-known brands like Anchor, Mainland and Kapiti. The Huddle debates whether Kevin Spacey should be hired for acting jobs again after a Hollywood campaign to back him again. Plus, the best bloopers from a marathon council meeting. Ding ding ding! 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, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Several Hollywood stars have called for the witch-hunt against Kevin Spacey to stop - so he can return to the screen again. Should he be given a chance? Would we support this? Following on from Sam Cane's public retirement from the All Blacks - was the media too harsh on him? Is Te Huia over for good? The meeting to discuss the train service's future happened today - what comes next? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland councillors have given mayor Wayne Brown's Long Term Plan the green light. It includes a $50 per week cap for public transport fares and creating an Auckland Future Fund with the Council's remaining airport shares. Brown says there was a lot of discussion on the airport shares. "The public we consulted were all very keen to put the airport shares into a growth fund. But some of my councillors were just kind of emotionally attached to them." The plan will go to the full governing body in June to be rubber-stamped. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Nelson woman is the latest to express disappointment with Air New Zealand's conduct. On April 29, Kerstin Zdzieblik was bumped off her afternoon flight to Auckland - meaning she missed her international connection and was left $800 out of pocket as a result of this mistake. Her daughter, Anne Thomas, says the airline gave away her seat to relocate a crew member without checking she had an international connection. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blacklisted actor Kevin Spacey is fighting to revive his career after being cleared of sexual assault. Spacey's been acquitted on nine charges - and won a civil lawsuit, where he was accused of an unwanted sexual advance. Now big industry names, including Sharon Stone and Liam Neeson, are speaking up for the 64-year-old's Hollywood return.US reporter Anthony Davis says victims' stories seem to be missing. "In all the coverage that I've seen, including the right of reply opportunities that Kevin Spacey has had, there's no mention of these 10 people who have placed the latest allegations." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's uncertainty around Fonterra's plan to sell well-known brand Anchor. The diary giant has signalled its intent to divest some or all of its global consumer business, including Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka. Dairy NZ deputy chair Jacqueline Rowarth says Anchor is synonymous with New Zealand. "Anchor was sold at one point, and then they brought it back. So let's not do that again, it would have to be a very, very good offer in order to actually compensate for that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lawyer involved in a case affecting an investigation into a Green MP understands it's not close to wrapping up. MP Darleen Tana's been stood down for the past two months during investigation of allegations of migrant exploitation at the business of her husband, Christian Hoff-Nielson. Lawyer Alex Kersjes represents some of Hoff-Nielson's former workers. He says both his clients were interviewed last week. "It would seem there's still very much in the investigative phase, the last query I had was trying to find an email trail between Tana and our clients." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Chris Hipkins has taken a crack at the Government's scheme for school lunches. Hipkins visited a primary school in Christchurch - and warned that kids would receive less nutrition under David Seymour's cost-cutting plan. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says little has been mentioned about the wastage coming from school lunches under Labour. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wolverhampton have lodged a motion to scrap the use of VAR in football's Premier League. ESPN reports a vote will be held at next month's meeting of the 20 clubs. The team will need the backing of 13 others to pass the resolution, which would see the video assistant referee removed from the English top flight with immediate effect. Sportstalk's D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the implications of this debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing debate mortgage advisors need more regulation - alongside a Commerce Commission bid to make it easier to take out a home loan. Discussions at a banking conference centred on concerns brokers don't encourage mortgage rate competition. Simplicity CEO, Sam Stubbs, says they provide a valuable service, but commissions are a worry. "What CommComm are concerned about is - are they actually acting in the best interests of the clients, or are they acting in the best interests of themselves to try and maximise their commission?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it’s D-day for Te Huia. Today's the day that NZTA has met and has decided whether or not to keep funding the train past the end of June. Unless NZTA gives them more money, it’s all over by the first of July.And come on, it’s gotta be all over right? Because the case for this thing has never actually stacked up.We subsidise every single passenger on that train to the tune of at least $92 per trip. Compare that to the other commuter train that runs in the North Island between Palmerston North and Wellington, the Capital Connection. The subsidy there is $26 per passenger, that's almost a quarter.80,000 are estimated to catch Te Huia this year. By contrast, it's 110,000 for the Capital train. Can you explain to me how fewer people are catching a train into Auckland, a considerably bigger city?Because why would you? You can do that trip on the train from Hamilton to Auckland, it takes 2 hours and 40 minutes. Or you can jump in your car and travel for 2 hours - it doesn't make any sense. The train only runs a

An investigative piece by the New Yorker is questioning the verdict in the Lucy Letby case. Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies in her care as a nurse and sentenced to life in prison. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the article questioned her conviction and the lack of evidence revealing her guilt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.