Larry Williams Drive

The Finance Minister is defending the Government's move to scrap the Cook Strait mega-ferries - and claimed costs would have blown out on the original project. The Hyundai dockyard contracted to build the boats has received a total $222 million for the canned project, which includes a net $144 million final settlement. $300 million had been provisioned. Nicola Willis says the plans were not progressing well - and they were tied up in all sorts of additional complications.  "There was a very reasonable reality that the port side of the infrastructure would not have been built in time for the ferries to have arrived, and that, therefore, they wouldn't have been able to be used." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accommodation company's pitching for raising the working holiday visa age from 30 to 50. Lylo managing director Tim Alpe wants restrictions eased to attract more people, pointing to the struggle still faced by tourism.  He says lifting the age would provide flexibility for older people keen to try something new. Alpe says it'd have no downside.  "I just think that by limiting it to 30 or 35, we aren't that competitive with Australia and Canada - who are killing it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business spokesperson is encouraging Northland retailers to keep contacting police over smaller crimes.  The Northland Chamber of Commerce says business owners across the region aren't calling in shoplifting because they don't think police will turn up.  But CEO Leah McKerrow explained that even if officers can't respond - the data still goes into the system.  "And while each incidence in its own right feels small, collectively we're starting to get a pattern." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European leaders are flocking to the White House to present an iron-clad defence of Ukraine's interests.  The US is scaling up pressure for the war-battered Ukraine to agree to terms with Russia for ending the war, after this past weekend's Alaska summit.  This could involve ceding territory to Russia, including Crimea - and ending its pursuit of NATO membership.   Ukraine's Ambassador to New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, says NATO would provide security guarantees, and possibly boots on the ground.  He also explained we need to create conventional strategic weapons, other equipment and a strong army to deter Russia from future invasions.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's aiming to lift the burden of covering the costs of defective building work from councils. It plans to replace the consent framework with a scheme making each party only responsible for their share of work. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk claims councils fearing liability for defects are hesitant to sign off on consents and inspections. He says this follows discussions with the sector. "Now we'll be able to get that legislated - and in the meantime, spend time getting that detail right about what those measures should be." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's justifying his noted absence from a global meeting on Ukraine, due to the time difference.  Coalition of the Willing members gathered for virtual talks overnight, to embolden President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a meeting at the White House, for a number of them.  Many leaders attended, including Australia, France and the UK. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon was invited to attend the discussion - and officials joined the call in his place.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One man is dead and another is in hospital with serious wounds following a shooting outside a Sydney pub yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Harold Park hotel on Ross Street in Forest Lodge in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday evening.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says investigations are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second half lapse will go under the microscope for the All Blacks following their 41-24 Rugby Championship win over Argentina in Cordoba. Despite leading 31-10 at the break, New Zealand allowed Los Pumas to score two converted tries and close the gap to seven in a trying 20 minute period and had two yellow cards. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cyclist group says it's worth looking into changing helmet laws, following the release of a new report. Newstalk ZB has revealed the Regulation Ministry has advised its Minister the risks of not requiring the protective measures would outweigh any benefits. David Seymour asked it to look into dumping the rule. Cycling Advocates Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan says Seymour made the wrong call to drop this, as helmets put people off. "If we're trying to solve the problem of inactivity, which we know is killing more than 2,000 people a year in New Zealand, you'd want more people to be active. Anything that's a barrier to cycling - we should look at removing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 15 August 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters speaks to Heather about the eye-watering cost of breaking our ferry contract with Hyundai. Heather gets hot under the collar about the new rules for hospital cafeterias. Can we actually expect a deal to be struck when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet tomorrow? Former chief of staff to Marco Rubio, Matt Terrill, speaks to Heather. Plus, the Sports Huddle takes a punt at the result for the first All Blacks-Argentina test. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has once again extended the deadline to reach a trade deal with China.  The deadline that was due to end today has now been pushed back by 3 months.  Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this extension is, ‘kicking the can down the road.’   He says that the two countries' trade principles are making it harder to find a middle ground. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is due to meet with Vladimir Putin at 7:30am NZST to discuss the war in Ukraine.  This will be the first time the pair have met since Helsinki in 2018, and the first time the Russian President has visited the States in more than a decade.  Marco Rubio’s former chief of staff and managing partner of Firehouse Strategies Matt Terrill told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this meeting is a ‘major step’ towards a ceasefire.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave and Andrew Gordy join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.  What will north shore golfers do without Takapuna Golf Club? And what should we make of our top netball players running overseas? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland council wants to go ahead with its plans to cut Takapuna Golf Course in half - turning it into a 9-hole course. This plan will transform half of the club into a wetland to help with any future floods.  Despite opposition from big-name members at the club such as Lydia Ko and Ryan Fox, alternative options to this plan have been rejected. Takapuna Golf Club member Phil Jaggard says the club will, 'take a moment to digest this information.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I don't know what kind of psychosis has taken hold of the bureaucrats at Health New Zealand, but you want to see these rules that they've put out about the food and what food is allowed and what food is banned from the hospital cafeterias. It is ridiculously, ridiculously prescriptive. So what they've done is they, they, they put out, because they like wasting their time on nonsense, they've put out their new national food and drink policy. And it's divided food into three categories. You've got the green category, that's the good stuff. You've got the amber category, that's a bit naughty, but OK, and you've got the red category and that's banned. So what you are allowed to eat when you go to the hospital cafeteria is chicken.  But without the skin on. So that you're basically left with the saddest, driest chicken breast known to man. Yum, enjoy yourself. Beef and pork, that is allowed, but the staff have to trim the visible fat off, and they have to drain the fatty drippings, which completely

Health New Zealand's changing up hospital cafe menus in the name of a good diet.  Its fresh National Food and Drink policy reduces processed foods, and the portion sizes for things like slices and scones.  Food will need lower saturated fats and added sugar - examples include skinless chicken and fish.  Public Health Service Director Doctor Nick Chamberlain says it would be a bad look if hospitals didn't have healthy food guidelines. Chamberlain says they're trying to provide guidance, which still gives a huge amount of choice.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ says food inflation was back up five-percent for the year to July. The heftiest increases include butter rising 42-percent, cheese 29, and produce climbing more than seven. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says other essentials like milk, steak, and mince are also going up. Olsen says food price inflation probably won't impact next week's Reserve Bank announcement, but it is uncomfortable for households.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rail Minister Winston Peters is disputing the reported final cost of dumping the mega-ferries project which sits at $671million dollars.  Peters argues the 449-million for infrastructure, project management, and wind-down costs isn't all lost, with elements still being used.  Settlement for cancelling the contract with a Hyundai shipyard for the two new inter-island ferries cost 144-million-dollars.  It brings the total paid to the boat builders, to 222 million.  He says that was actually lower than the 300-million originally provisioned.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has begun looking in to allowing more foreign investors to by homes in New Zealand.  Currently in discussion is the proposal to loosen the active investor visa and allow investors to purchase a property.  Although discussion is in early days, a decision is expected to be made soon.  Barry Soper told Heather duPlessis-Allan, ‘you would expect that a decision would be made clear by our cabinet in the coming weeks.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow.  This is the first time a Russian leader has been on US soil in more than a decade.   Donald Trump has made it clear on many occasions that he wants to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.  US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley  told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, “He wants to be seen as a peacemaker president.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.