Larry Williams Drive

The Reserve Bank says inflation's too high, but it's actually worried it could soon end up too low. It's kept the OCR unchanged at 2.25 percent. New Governor Anna Breman says they're not happy with headline inflation surpassing the one-to-three percent target band last quarter. But she says underlying core-inflation is much lower, and wage growth slow. She explained that unless the economy rebounds, they think inflation might actually fall below the target. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions in Parliament today - with barbs traded between the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. Chris Luxon took a swipe at Labour's Chris Hipkins at Question Time over inflation. Speaker Gerry Brownlee told numerous MPs to cool down, after heckling from both sides. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the action from today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fight for the oppressed and overlooked is encompassed in Jesse Jackson's legacy. The Civil Rights leader has died aged 84 surrounded by family.  Jackson built a career around activism - fighting alongside Martin Luther King Jr to improve the lives of Black people in America.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says President Donald Trump paid tribute - and so did some other former leaders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing Netball New Zealand chair Matt Whineray insists they will heed the lessons from the Silver Ferns coaching debacle. Whineray's ending his eight-year tenure alongside three other board members. The governing body came under intense scrutiny last year for their handling of Dame Noeline Taurua's standing down and eventual re-instatement. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest dog attack in Northland has sparked calls for urgency around manging savage canines.  Northland 62-year-old, Mihiata Te Rore, was killed by three dogs yesterday as she visited a home in Kaihu. NZ First's Shane Jones has suggested penalising owners of dangerous dogs with prison sentences. Northland MP Grant McCallum says councils need to enforce regulations to keep people safe - but some law changes are in order. "We've got too many dogs out there and you have to question some of the breeds, so the question becomes - do we look at a stronger de-sexing policy going forward? And also, some of the breeds of these dogs...are there just some breeds we don't need?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six companies linked to the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, are being wound down, according to new reports. One company is related to public relations, another to retail, and none appeared to be commercially active. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Ferguson was desperate for money, even emailing Epstein for help while he was in prison.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Infrastructure Commission's suggesting the Government spends less on roads and tolls Auckland's future additional harbour crossing. It's 30-year-road-map released today makes 10 recommendations for what should be prioritised over the next decade, with hospital investment topping the list.  The plan suggests the extra crossing in Auckland, tunnel or bridge, gets a $9 toll. National Road Carriers Association CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers says the infrastructure has be paid for - and solutions need to be found.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows wool sales are still up in the South Island. PGG Wrightson South Island auction manager Dave Burridge said exporter demand remains highly competitive - with the SWI lifting a further 47 cents. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sky TV is seeing the loss of HBO content as a new opportunity.  Warner Bros Discovery's announced it will launch HBO max mid-year, home to original hit shows like The Pitt which originally featured on Sky's Neon service.  Sky CEO Sophie Moloney says they need a broader suit of options than what they've been securing through the HBO deal.  "It means that we can be investing in other content that makes sense for our business with other studios, like Sony and the BBC. So as a team, we're really excited about what the future holds."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day, and more! The ACT Party is looking to make changes to the End of Life Choice Act, and it's prompted concerns from critics about what it could mean for the healthcare system? Do we think these are warranted?  The Government is looking into tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, as well as the second harbour crossing. Do we think this is realistic? What do we think of the new birth statistics data. More women are delaying kids until they get older. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You want some fascinating data about how we’ve changed in the past 60 years? Have a look at the birth statistics out today - especially the age at which mums are having babies. Last year, 14 percent of births were to mums younger than 25. In 1995, which is just one generation ago, it was double that: 28 percent of births were to mums under 25. And in 1960, two generations ago, it was 46 percent - nearly half of all births. Today, there are now more babies born to mums over 40 than to mums under 20. And I’m one of those mums - I was counted in last year’s data. Last January, at 40, I had a baby. Now, if I could do my life again, I reckon it probably would have been better to have my kids about a decade earlier. Your knees at 40 are not what they were at 30. Kids want you to run, you don’t really want to run anymore. You’re just tired. But at 40, you also understand the value of time. If I had my kids at 40, and they have their kids at 40, I’ll become a grandmother around 80. Which means I won’t have that

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 17 February, 2026, a $9 toll for crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge is part of a 30-year infrastructure plan - will it happen? More 40-year-old women are now having babies than those under 25. Why Sky TV's Sophie Moloney isn't gutted about losing HBO content on Neon. And on the Huddle, Maurice Williamson and Ali Jones discuss whether the euthanasia law should be expanded. 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.

Advocates warn the removal of requirements for assisted suicide would open Pandora's box. The ACT Party is pushing for changes to its End of Life Choice Act.  Proposed amendments include removing the six-month prognosis requirement and adopting all 25 recommendations for a Health Ministry review.  Ethos Alliance chief executive Alex Penk says it would open up euthanasia as an option to more long-term conditions and disabilities.  "If you're a doctor at the moment, for example, who says I can make my peace with euthanasia for end-stage cancer, say - they might start to feel quite differently about this when you start talking about diabetes, frailty, renal failure..." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand-based gambling experts have claimed prediction market platforms like Polymarket are illegal under the nation's gambling laws. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi are online markets where users can place bets on future outcomes, like political news events or OCR updates. Internal Affairs Director of Gambling Vicki Scott says Polymarket meets the definition of their illegal framework - and they're looking to shut it down. "We wrote to both Kalshi and Polymarket yesterday, explaining our view that it's clearly in breach of our laws and requesting their immediate removal from the New Zealand market." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More women are having children later in life, according to new data. Stats NZ figures show a record-low number of under-25s are giving birth, which is half the number of a generation ago. The number of live births last year was essentially the same as in 1995 - just under 58,000. Massey University Sociologist, Paul Spoonley says he's not surprised as life expectancy rises. "There are many more children born to women aged over 40 in New Zealand, compared to women aged 20 and younger in New Zealand."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's not getting good bang for its infrastructure buck, according to some. The Infrastructure Commission has released a 30-year plan with 16 recommendations, and 10 top priorities for the next decade - including health spending.  Infrastructure Commission chief executive Geoff Cooper says we rank high on spending in the OECD, but our outcomes are in the bottom 10 percent. He says New Zealand has unique problems we need to solve.  "The geography is very difficult and we have a dispersed population. That means more pipes, more roads, more transmission lines and so on - and that costs, if you're going to do that."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop warned the Government may need to put a toll on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to fund the new Waitematā crossing. The new crossing will be tolled, but the Government is getting advice on whether the existing bridge needs to be tolled as well - in order to stop people from using the old bridge to bypass the toll. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains why this idea isn't realistic for commuters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NRL star Matt Utai was left wounded in an ambush attack with no clear motive. He suffered serious leg wounds after the attack at his home at Greenacre, in southwest Sydney, at 6am this morning. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says investigations are ongoing - as Matt Utai has no criminal links. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps  try to lock down a spot tonight in the Super Eight at the T20 World Cup . They play Canada in Chennai from 6:30pm. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's renewed pressure on the Government to get the ball rolling on a social media ban for Kiwi teens. Last year, Australia banned social media for under-16s and it's inspired other countries to consider implementing similar measures. Triple P NZ manager Jackie Riach says it's too early to see the full impact of Australia's ban, but parents are reporting positive results so far. "The ban is one thing - what Australia did do alongside the ban was implement some parenting support, so I'm reporting the data from the parenting support, which is great." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.