Larry Williams Drive

The US and Europe have posted several quarterly results - and this season has been labelled 'spicy' and volatile by experts. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds unpacks all the highs and lows found within the results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AgriZeroNZ, the joint venture fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for Kiwi farmers, has put up millions of dollars in the race for a 'methane vaccine'. The company has invested $9.9 million in U.S. ag-biotech start-up, ArkeaBio, to accelerate a treatment for ruminant animals. The Country's Jamie Mackay examines the impact of these treatments. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking increasingly likely that cash is getting phased out. More and more banks have removed their ATMs, and Australia's Macquarie Bank made headlines over its decision to scrap physical money altogether. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann examines the future of physical cash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 9 May 2024, Transpower's warning Kiwis to reduce their electricity usage to avoid power cuts tomorrow morning. Transpower's Chantelle Bramley tells Heather how bad the shortfall is. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised "modest but meaningful" tax cuts. Heather asks her how much money we'll get. The Huddle debates whether the last Government caused the energy crisis we find ourselves in and whether Woolworths should own its promotions mistake. Plus the Baby Reindeer news that has Heather on the edge of her seat... 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.

The nation is grappling with worsening power and gas shortages - in line with one expert's warning. In September 2023, Enerlytica director John Kidd warned of power shortage risks following the loss of a key gas-fired power plant. Kidd says these issues have been coming for a while. "It is one of those things where you need capacity to cover exactly these types of periods. And over the last few years, we just haven't had that new capacity."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and ZB host Tim Beveridge joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Transpower has warned customers across the nation to reduce their power consumption from 7am to 9am tomorrow morning due to an unexpected cold snap. Should we have seen this coming? Can we expect this to happen again? Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised 'meaningful but modest' tax cuts ahead of the 2024 Budget. The Opposition has already labelled it 'crumbs' - what do we think? Should the Government have tackled inflation first? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An employment expert says compulsory work seminars for beneficiaries will make them more employable. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced the seminars will be designed to help with training and work. Jobseekers who do not attend could face sanctions. Max Whitehead says some people need help to show employers what they can offer. "These courses will really give them the training so they can present themselves - and show they can be reliable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of people have been caught up in Woolworths whoopsie. The supermarket wrote to winners of a promotion, awarding them 4000 reward points - which equals $30 worth of groceries. But it sent about 80,000 emails, instead of 1000. It's apologised and offered 500 points compensation to those wrongly emailed. Auckland University marketing professor Mike Lee says it's understandable if people are upset. "It sets up that expectation, and then to take it away... even if they were to offer something at half-price, people are going to be left with a bad taste in their month." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has promised Kiwis will benefit from meaningful tax cuts in this year's Budget. Nicola Willis gave a preview speech to the Hutt Valley Business Chamber this morning - and ruled out austerity, despite a challenging economy. Willis says she's made sure the cuts will be targeted at middle to lower income workers and families. "We've come up with what we think is responsible. As I outlined today - inflation has pushed New Zealanders into much higher tax brackets. That means, on average, people are paying a lot more tax." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transpower is reminding people to avoid unnecessary power use. The grid operator is asking consumers to reduce electricity use between 7am and 9am tomorrow. An unseasonal cold snap and low wind generation means the country is facing a potential supply shortfall. Executive operations general manager Chantelle Bramley says they're doing their best to avoid power cuts. "Generators have been making as much generation available as possible, we've been working with lines companies - and industrial customers have also responded."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Sydney, a man's been arrested after a woman was stabbed in a gym car park. It's believed the man and the woman were in a brief relationship before the attack, where the victim was stabbed multiple times. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says authorities have warned attacks like this have become more common. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is still committed to giving Kiwis their promised tax cuts. Willis unveiled a preview of this year's Budget and promised 83 percent of New Zealanders will benefit from incoming tax relief. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks Willis' promise - and theorises on who stands to benefit and miss out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby have expressed a desire to bring Richie Mo’unga home early from his Japanese contract with Toshiba, which ends in mid-2026. Scott Robertson’s elevation to All Blacks coach and concern around depth at first-five have instigated the push. ZB sports commentator Elliott Smith outlines some of the strategies NZ Rugby might use to bring him back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A petition's been handed to Parliament calling for an inquiry into Alan Hall's wrongful conviction. Hall spent 19 years in prison wrongly convicted of murdering Arthur Easton in 1985. He received $5 million and an apology. The petition asks for a Royal Commission Inquiry into the conviction and police investigation. Social Justice Aotearoa CEO Jackie Foster says the conviction was a travesty. "We believe so many questions have not been answered - and no one has been held accountable for what's happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airports across the UK were all impacted by an outage at passport e-gates, causing subsequent delays. The outage at e-gates left staff at several airports manually processing travellers to get them through. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this is the second high-profile airport issue since May 2023. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised about the future of the Port of Tauranga. This comes off the back of Auckland mayor Wayne Brown confirming the Port of Auckland's land, assets, and operations will be kept in council ownership. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explores a few potential outcomes. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has noticed New Zealand's biggest banks don't seem to be rushing to get more information about the insurability of the properties they lend against. The Reserve Bank wants banks to keep a closer eye on the long-term insurability of properties they lend against, amid concerns about natural risks. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the moves the banks could take to address these issues. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Cambridge scientist may have gotten us one step closer to discovering life on other planets. Professor Nikku Madhusudhan came across dimethyl sulphide gas on planet K2-18b during a routine scan - a gas mainly produced by living things. He says the planet is suspected to be an ocean world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, meaning the gas could come from microorganisms.  "Any discovery of life outside of any kind is a major advancement, because that tells us that the origin of life is not unique to Earth. And that is one of the central questions of science." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 8 May 2024, the man wanted in relation to the Ponsonby shooting has been found dead in Taupo. Detective Inspector Chris Barry tells Heather whether or not it's a gang related incident. Haeata Community Campus Principal Peggy Burrows responds to David Seymour's free school lunches revamp. RMA Minister Chris Bishop defends his decision to keep the dilapidated Gordon Wilson Flats. On the Huddle, Jack Tame and Clare De Lore discuss 'woke' food in schools. 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 Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Authorities still claim Sunday's shooting on Auckland's Ponsonby Road is still a bit of a mystery following the death of the shooter today. Will we learn the truth? Is this a sign of escalating violence in New Zealand?  The Government has today unveiled a new school lunch scheme that will give schoolkids free meals at a reduced cost. Was this the right decision? The Government is considering making some electoral law changes following yesterday's report into the complications and errors in the 2023 election. Is this the right call - or does it seem like gerrymandering? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.