Larry Williams Drive

Two out of three job applicants have admitted to 'rage-applying' to new roles out of frustration with their employers, according to new research. A survey carried out by recruitment specialist Robert Walters indicates over half of the 2000 respondents were motivated to leave a toxic work environment. Robert Walters commercial director Stuart Nash says this is proof workplace culture matters to employees - and leadership should pay attention. "Culture is so important - and good leaders create great culture. Culture is one of those things that's difficult to quantify, but we do know it makes a difference." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the UK's biggest retail groups has confirmed it plans to give job applicants their interview questions beforehand in an attempt to make the process fairer. John Lewis and Waitrose applicants across all skill levels will have access to these questions from the company's websites.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the mass reactions to this idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes will be on Foreign Minister Winston Peters ahead of his hotly-anticipated foreign policy speech. Peters is expected to deliver a notable, forward-looking address in Parliament this Wednesday to the Institute of International Affairs. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan suspects AUKUS will be a part of it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a big day for the Education Minister, as she's released more education priorities - and promised extra incentive for teachers. The Government's hotly-anticipated ban on cell phones also kicked in today, as students returned for Term Two.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Minister Erica Stanford still has plenty of obstacles ahead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled and dubbed a 'liar' at a weekend rally held outside Parliament House. Thousands of people attended the 'No More! National Rally Against Violence' march in protest of the multiple violent deaths of Australian women this year. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese was asked not speak - and the optics of this aren't good. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac has received a funding boost - but the Government says it's to cover a 'fiscal cliff' left by Labour. Associate Health Minister David Seymour revealed the drug-buying agency will be bolstered by more than $1.7 billion over four years, as part of the Budget. Medicines New Zealand CEO Graeme Jarvis says he was aware of this gap in funding. He says the Covid-19 pandemic created more fiscal cliffs to be dealt with than even Treasury considered. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 29 April 2024, Associate Health Minister David Seymour tells Heather why an extra $1.7 billion for Pharmac is merely keeping the lights on at our drug buying agency - but won't buy us more medicines. It's bad news for the coalition in the latest political poll as Labour closes the gap with National and NZ First slips below the 5% threshold. Finance Minister and Deputy National leader Nicola Willis tells Heather why she's not fazed. Police Minister Mark Mitchell responds to a wave of violent daylight burglaries in shopping malls. Mobile phones are officially off limits in NZ schools from today, Principals Association president Vaughan Couillault reveals how many phones he's confiscated so far. The Huddle debates whether Victoria University should have cancelled a free speech debate, and if handing out jobs to former MPs is "jobs for the boys". Plus would Heather drink breast milk like the Kardashians? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Victoria University has copped plenty of backlash over their decision to postpone a free speech event after pushback from the students. Should they have left the event alone? Paula Bennett is the latest former National MP to get appointed into a Government role - she's the new chair for Pharmac. Is she the latest case of the Government handing out jobs to mates? Was the opposition just as guilty of this? Today marks the first day of the Government's cell phone ban in schools. It seems to have gone off without a hitch-  what do we think of this? Should we bring back the fees to resit a drivers licence test?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has brushed off a tough new poll result for the coalition. The latest 1News Verian poll shows a two percent fall for National to have them on 36 percent. Act is down one to 7 percent and New Zealand First is on 4 percent. Those numbers mean the left block of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori could govern. Minister Nicola Willis says she isn't losing her head over it. "Oh well. We've had this conversation before - polls move up and down, and there is not an election tomorrow. So our job as a Government is to focus on getting on with business." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Victoria University has hit pause on a controversial debate, after student backlash. A panel discussion around the role of universities in free speech has been pushed back to the end of May, following the opposition from students. The Free Speech Union's Jonathan Ayling, who was expected to attend, has expressed confusion at being included as part of the backlash. "I challenge anyone to find references to me spouting hate speech of any kind. It is simply the fact -and my opponents will admit this - that I have defended speech rights of those who they claim have expressed hate speech." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kāinga Ora has been fined $6,000 for being too slow to evict unruly tenants. Stuff reports Kāinga Ora was forced to pay a woman terrorised by neighbours and fellow social housing tenants. The antisocial tenants defecated outside her door, and it's alleged they threw a woman off a balcony. Lawyer Adina Thorn says any other landlord would've kicked them out much sooner. "It takes people a lot of time hassling Kāinga Ora - and they've got to basically be at a wits end before Kāinga Ora will step up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi kids have endured their first day of no cell phones at school. Students can no longer use or access their phone at school under new Government legislation. Many schools started phasing the rule in from Term One, before the ban came into force this term. Secondary Principals' Association president Vaughan Couillault says not many students were found breaking the rules at his school today. "Well, I've got three cell phones that have been confiscated in the front office, so you'd have to say out of 1800 students, it looks like three of them got busted." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says the Prime Minister would have a tougher job sacking a minister from ACT than from National. Luxon stood down Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds from portfolios last week. Seymour says it would take a bigger process if Luxon wanted to give the boot to one of his party's ministers. "What I did say is- if we were going to have that sort of action, then the coalition agreement requires good faith, it requires conversation - and it ultimately requires agreement on these sorts of things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps squad for the T20 cricket World Cup in the West Indies and United States has been named. The 15-strong squad features just two players - Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra - who've never played at the tournament. Sportstalk host Jason Pine unpacks today's reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he's deeply concerned about the ages of robbers plundering Auckland jewellery stores. In the past two weeks, at least five aggravated robberies have spanned Auckland - at Westgate, Newmarket, Onehunga and Manurewa. Minister Mark Mitchell says in the most recent incident, the robbers were aged between nine and fourteen. He says plans for youth military academies are a big part of their response. "That's going to be targeted at those worst recidivist violent youth offenders, because at the end of the day,  we want to invest in these young people and try to get them back on the right track." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you know, today is the official first day of the ban on cell phones in schools. For most parents and teachers and kids it's actually not a particularly special milestone, given that most schools started bringing in these bans at the start of the year. But today is the first day that it's actually in force. And you know what?  The thing that I found most surprising about this is how overwhelmingly popular it is. One high school's principal even says they wished they'd done it five years ago, because the kids are interacting more in the playground. Waitara High's principal says the academic outcomes are improving, because they did it already at the start of last year. He says the change is the most important thing he has done in at least 20 years of teaching. Stratford High School's principal says the kids are talking more. He describes it as an 'overwhelming success'. Now, what makes this even better is that it has cost us nothing. We don't have to spend any money buying things or hiring people, we just cha

New Zealanders are staying in paid work longer in an effort to transition into retirement, according to a new study.  The average age Kiwi’s are choosing to retire has risen to 67 from 61, since the mandatory retirement age was eliminated in 2000.  Co-director of the Retirement Policy and Research Centre Michael Littlewood tells Jack Tame that New Zealand’s state pension is generous, but not enough to live on for some. But, the real reason people choose to transition from full-time work to full-time retirement is not known.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park is reportedly set to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums. The Sports Huddle discuss whether the stadium remains fit for purpose.  Plus, are the Crusaders underperforming or were expectations too high? Is it time to panic for Warriors fans? And, could NZ hold a second Supercars round?  Newshub Sport Presenter Andrew Gourdie and Newstalk ZB Deputy Sport News Director Elliott Smith join Jack Tame.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park is reportedly about to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums.  On Monday, a working committee will make a recommendation to Auckland Council on whether to invest in Eden Park or one of the rival waterfront stadium bids.  NZ Herald Sports Columnist Trevor Mckewen tells Jack Tame as an existing location, Eden Park could be a cheaper option than others starting from scratch.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A unique re-homing program has been set up for actual lab rats across New Zealand.   The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) are working with the scientific community to find former lab rats their forever homes, while pushing the Government to stop animal testing.  Executive Director of NZAVS Tara Jackson tells Jack Tame NZ has nearly half a million animals who are bred for science, not used, and subsequently killed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.