Larry Williams Drive

Genesis Energy has confirmed they plan to resume buying coal amid reduced gas supplies and increased consumer demand. The company claims it needs to invest in a solid stockpile to ensure customers can access what they need for the time being. CEO Malcolm Johns warns the company will dip below the 350,000 tonne threshold by spring. "We're going to have to buy coal to top that stockpile up for next winter, and probably the winter after that as well." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dilapidated Gordon Wilson Flats in Wellington will keep their heritage label - for now. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has rejected a last-minute move to remove heritage listings for a number of buildings to make way for development. But he has given the green light to a range of housing recommendations, with hopes to encourage intensification in the city. Chris Bishop says there wasn't enough information at the table to remove the heritage listing. "If someone presented to me expert evidence as to why a variety of these buildings were not significant enough to be covered by a heritage listing, then I could do that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's reservations about the Government's new school lunch scheme. Associate Education Minister David Seymour has unveiled a programme he says will continue feeding kids already getting free school lunches. But he says they'll save $107 million a year by serving simple items and having a Government bulk-order for food. Haeata Community Campus Principal Peggy Burrows says it'll likely throw up challenges for kids unable to eat things like gluten, dairy and nuts. "I just worry that if the Government is going to be buying the food, how much flexibility are we going to be having for the children?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A constitutional law expert suggests changing rules on enrolling to vote could benefit the current Government. A report by the Auditor-General's found pressures on systems led to mistakes in the vote count, such as a rushed final check of the official results. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has proposed stopping people enrolling to vote on election day to slim down numbers of special votes. Otago University's Andrew Geddis says people showing up that way tend to vote left. "The special votes every election deliver more seats to the left parties than the right. So if you end election day enrolments, you'll help the right - which is why Paul Goldsmith is so keen to do it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say Sunday's shooting on Auckland's Ponsonby Road is still a bit of a mystery. 33-year-old Robert Sidney Horne was killed by 31-year-old Killer Beez member, Hone Kay-Selwyn, after he and other got out of a car, about 10.15pm. Kay-Selwyn was found dead yesterday in a rural property near Taupō, hundreds of kilometres from Auckland. Detective Inspector Chris Barry says they may never have a complete explanation for what happened. "Perhaps we could surmise that the victim and his associate perhaps didn't appreciate the situation early in the piece and the risks that they were facing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says the country's low gas production is threatening our energy security. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show there was a 12.5 percent reduction in gas production last year and almost 30 percent less has been produced this year than projected. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says more people are getting desperate for gas energy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels has described her alleged affair with Donald Trump - in graphic detail. She's taken the stand today as a key witness in the former US President's ongoing criminal hush money trial in New York. Daniels walked the jury through a sexual encounter in 2006 - that Trump denies - and the $130,000 in hush money she received. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Daniels denied that she wanted Trump imprisoned, but she did want him held accountable.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Rugby's entire board could be forced to reapply under a new governance proposal - regardless of how this month's general meeting plays out. On May 30, NZR will hold the meeting with its voting members to finalise a new governance structure after an investigation determined the current model was not fit for purpose. ZB sports commentator Elliott Smith unpacks what this means for the future of the organisation.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research indicates manual cars will be phased out within the next five years. The number of new manual cars being manufactured has halved within the last six years - and companies like Volvo, Lexus, Jaguar have stopped producing showroom models of manual cars. AA's Roger Venn says it's likely we'll only be importing battery-powered electric vehicles, according to new regulations. "They don't come with any transmission that requires a clutch and a gearbox. So yes, new manual vehicles will be off the menu within very few years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is determined to fight on after a poor showing in the UK local elections. The final votes were counted last weekend, and the Tories lost 10 councils and over 470 council seats. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's hard to see where Sunak goes from here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meat exporters are celebrating news the Government's negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Trade Minister Todd McClay says he hopes to get a deal over the line as soon as possible. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says it's good that we're striking when the iron's hot when it comes to demand from that part of the world. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The small town of Reefton, located in the West Coast, is sitting on a supply of a valuable mineral. An Australian mining company believes Reefton could have 5 percent of the world's supply of antimony. Siren Gold CEO Victor Rajasooriar says it's likely they'll find at least 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of antimony if they keep drilling. "We're quite confident with the initial drilling that we've done... there's a lot sitting in that region. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has announced his idea of leasing out Port operations for 35 years is now off the table. A new agreement with unions and the Port will instead see the land, assets and operations retained by the Council. Mayor Brown says the Auckland ratepayers can't keep on subsidising Port operations. "I think it's worth keeping the Port. Because at the moment, the ratepayers are subsidising the importers and that can't go on." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 7 May 2024, an investigation into vote counting errors uncovered more mistakes at last year's election. Chief Electoral Commissioner Karl Le Quesne tells Heather why their checks weren't up to scratch. Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell fronts after his shambolic press conference yesterday telling Heather he "muddied the water". ANZ boss Antonia Watson defends the bank's huge profit while borrowers are struggling with higher interest rates. On the Huddle, Paddy Gower doubles down for his call on body cameras for MPs. Plus do you wash your wheelie bin? 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, broadcaster Paddy Gower and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni may or may not be one of the contestants on the upcoming  season of Celebrity Treasure Island. Is this the right move for a politician to make? Did she take paid leave for this? What did we think of Mark Mitchell's blunder with the Corrections spending numbers? Did he embarrass anyone? Are the Greens taking Julie Anne Genter's behaviour seriously? The disgraced MP has been referred to the Privileges Committee over her behaviour in the House last week. She's off on MP business in the Chatham Islands - can she show her face in Parliament again? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A property manager is defending asking tenants to clean wheelie bins after backlash online. The Xclusive Property Management guide sets out end-of-tenancy expectations for renters. They include cleaning extractor fans, heat pump filters and wheelie bins. The Tenants' Protection Association says these terms are 'pathetic' and 'petty'. Xclusive director Carol Champ says such clean up is up to a person moving out. "It's not fair for an ingoing tenant to have to deal with that, so we kindly ask for them just to clean up and wash their wheelie bins." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Correction Minister's holding his hands up after mixing up new spending numbers. The Government's putting up $1.9 billion to add more than 800 beds at Waikeria Prison and deliver 685 more frontline Corrections staff, including 470 prison officers. Mark Mitchell's office has been forced to issue a correction, after several figures were confused at yesterday's press conference announcing the funding boost. He says it was his fault. "I muddied the waters on that, big time. That's on me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-and-a-half-thousand junior doctors have been striking since 7 this morning over pay negotiations. The Resident Doctors Association says the latest offer meant about 600 registrars would have had pay freezes or cuts of up to 12 percent. Health NZ Chief People Officer Andrew Slater says no current resident medical officers would get a pay cut. "That's the reason we're going to facilitation that was granted by the ERA last night, so that we can get a facilitator to help us understand why they believe that's the case. This is a good offer on the table." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big numbers of special votes and enrolments took a toll on vote counters in last year's election. A report on the count by the Auditor-General has found the final check of the official result was done in a few hours, on the day it was announced. The rushed assessment failed to identify multiple errors. It normally takes two days. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne says they're working at ways to better support staff in future. "We need to look at how we can use technology to identify potential errors - there might be some more staff needed. But we need check more robustly that the checks have been carried out as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party leadership says it's been made clear to Julie Anne Genter she can never repeat last week's behaviour in the House. Genter hasn't spoken publicly, since crossing the chamber and confronting Minister Matt Doocey during a transport debate. It's been confirmed today she'll face the Privileges Committee and a party disciplinary process is under way - but she won't lose her transport portfolio. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this update isn't surprising. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.