Larry Williams Drive

The Government finally unveiled its plan to address issues impacting the energy sector, and it's prompted a mixed response. The country's largest power companies have responded positively, and their shares have jumped on the NZX as a result. Meanwhile, consumers and other businesses have voiced concerns this doesn't address the status quo. Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy has criticised this announcement - and claimed this doesn't move the country forward at all. "Let's remember - last year, one in five consumers had trouble paying their bill, 19 percent of people missed paying their bill on time, 56 percent of people are concerned about the price of energy. This does nothing to address that."  EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says this announcement is 'underwhelming' - and claimed it wouldn't stop the closure of any mills. "It's too late for that, there's nothing really in there short-term that offers and kind of assistance for those people already in that spiral, they're looking at tough decisions to close

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR 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!  The Government finally unveiled its energy reform plan after plenty of anticipation. What did we make of it? Does it go far enough? Nigel Latta has passed away - what will we remember about him? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nigel Latta's being remembered for his sage parenting advice. The clinical psychologist, author and broadcaster died yesterday - aged 58 - after being diagnosed with stomach cancer a year ago. He's survived by his wife Natalie Flynn and five children and stepchildren. Friend Nic Russell says says his parenting books have had a wide ranging impact. "I definitely think a whole generation of Kiwis have been raised on his wise words of wisdom, really." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT says Auckland University should pay back thousands of students who did compulsory Treaty of Waitangi and Te Ao Māori courses. The university's senate has now recommended making the courses optional - after criticism from staff, students and politicians. ACT's Parmjeet Parmar, says more than 8,000 students had to take the course this year. "They had to push some papers out, papers that they really wanted to do, papers that are relevant to the degree or their aspirations - so they'll have to do that paper in future semesters."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's opted against a significant energy shake-up - rejecting calls to re-nationalise or split up the big gentailers.  Instead, it'll offer the Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects. Energy Minister Simon Watts explained the changes further here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Government cash for the three Crown-controlled gentailers. That's the biggest change to come from today's energy announcement - alongside plans for a new LNG import facility.  Energy Minister Simon Watts says a report concluded sector players weren't confident they could ask the Government for money to fund new generation projects.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Sopers says the Government rejected plenty of other ideas on the table. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A congressional deadlock's shut down the US Government.  Congress failed to pass last-ditch attempts to extend federal funding failed, with Democrats and Republicans refusing to vote through each other's bills. The deadline's now passed - meaning the Government must strip back to essential services, and most federal workers won't be paid. President Trump's threatened major cuts. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says it's a monstrous situation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White Ferns' ODI Cricket World Cup campaign gets underway tonight as they confront defending champions Australia in Indore. Central Hinds’ Flora Devonshire, Otago Sparks’ Polly Inglis and Bella James and Auckland Hearts’ Bree Illing will all make their World Cup debuts in the tournament. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave speaks ahead of tonight's clash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire and Emergency's new trucks don't have enough space for firefighter gear.  It has spent millions of dollars on the 28 vehicles, but crews say the lockers are about 20 percent smaller than before. Their union says workers are considering cutting holes to make more room.  Fire and Emergency Deputy National Commander, Megan Stiffler, says inventory lists weren't accurate.  "There were some items that weren't listed on that, and that's the bit that I'm working with fire crews at the moment - to understand why they weren't on a list and how I can best meet their needs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian Brueckner, a suspect linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been released from prison - and he's calling for the 'witch hunt' against him to stop. Brueckner was recently released after serving a seven-year rape sentence, and he had to surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor upon release. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the suspect hit out at the prosecutor who accused him of murdering McCann - and said he didn't 'feel free.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Reserve Bank will keep the Official Cash Rate on hold at at 3.6 percent. The RBA's Governor, Michele Bullock, says Australia is in a 'difficult position', but they're committed to addressing inflation. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra's making the case to shareholders in a bid to sell off its iconic brands. French dairy giant Lactalis has agreed to pay $4.2 billion for the consumer business. The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Conor English from Government relations firm Silvereye joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! US president Donald Trump recently unveiled a 20-point peace plan for Gaza. Do we think Hamas will agree to this? Could this be a gamechanger - or just another plan that goes nowhere?  Should Kāinga Ora have negotiated better to get more for the Dixon Street apartments in Wellington? The CTU is calling for electricity generators to be returned to public ownership ahead of the Government's big energy announcement. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, we need to talk about the Reserve Bank's excuses for how it completely stuffed up its job and let inflation get away on it during Covid. We spoke about this on the show yesterday, it's done the review and it says, quote, - "in hindsight, an earlier and more aggressive tightening might have reduced inflation sooner." Yeah. Really, Sherlock?  But this would have been difficult given the data available at the time. Now, basically what they're saying is: yeah, we could have done better if we could see what was happening at the time, but we couldn't see what was happening at the time. Which is a crock, isn't it? Because there were people who could see at the time what was happening, and they said so. They said it publicly, they said the Reserve Bank needs to start tightening up - in some cases, months, if not even more than a year, before they did. I mean, the New Zealand Initiative first identified that Covid could cause inflation in April 2022 - that's a year and a half before the Reserve Ban

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 30 September 2025, former Tony Blair adviser John Mcternan speaks to Heather about Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza - and whether it will lead to peace. The Government is celebrating getting closer to meeting some health targets but postcode lottery is still alive and well. Malcolm Mulholland from Patient Voice Aotearoa revealed what needs to change to make health access better across the country. Should horseriders be allowed to use a shared footpath? Plus, the Huddle debates whether Kainga Ora should have sold Wellington's Dixon St flats for more than $1million - and whether the big Defence Force flyover at the All Blacks game was embarrassing. 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.

There's a feeling Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100 percent tariff on any and all movies made outside the United States is unworkable. The US president didn't specify when or how it could be enacted in his post on social media - which followed an initial threat on foreign-produced movies in May. Screen Production and Development Association President Irene Gardiner says there's confusion about what he means. "It seems to be that the problem he's trying to solve is American productions not shooting in America. So the way to fix that is their own incentives." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CTU's head says excessive dividends for shareholders are stopping power companies investing more in generation.  The union says the partially Government-owned gentailers should re-nationalise.  Energy Minister Simon Watts will make an announcement tomorrow on sector reform.  Richard Wagstaff says gentailers have their priorities wrong.  "Between 2016 and 2020, there's 1.2 billion in capital expenditure - that was about a fifth of the dividend payout. There's no more generated today than there was 10 years ago." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horse riders in the lower North Island have raised concerns over safe road access. A shared path along the Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway - a project currently under construction - prompted concern after horse riders were excluded from the path. NZ Equestrian Advocacy Network chairperson Shelly Warwick says the group's lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, citing concerns over equity.  "There are alternatives for every other user if you want to take them, but they've made a shared-use path to cater for vulnerable road users to get across this community, but excluded horse riders." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns the figures given on Government health targets don't give the whole picture. Numbers on cancer treatment access, childhood immunisation, ED stays and wait times improved in the latest quarter. But Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland says the data doesn't reflect things like when patients leave ED. He says there are also questions around the cancer target - which asks for 90 percent of patients to start treatment within 31 days of deciding it'll happen. "Many oncologists would say - that's the wrong metric, the right metric is from the date of diagnosis to the date you are first seen by a specialist." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new 20-point-plan to end the war in Gaza - and one former British Prime Minister is set to play a key role. If Hamas agrees to the deal, the war will end immediately, with Israeli troops withdrawing and Hamas releasing all hostages. Donald Trump will head the Gaza transitional Government, made up of Palestinians and experts, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Former Political Secretary to Tony Blair, John McTernan, says plenty of groups trust Tony Blair's word - and he brings plenty of experience. "He's trusted by everybody, because when he's involved in a deal, the deal is stuck to because people can trust his word - he's a major operator."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.