Larry Williams Drive

Nigel Farage has called on the police to release the immigration status of the suspects charged with crimes following the arrest of two men in connection with an alleged rape in Warwickshire. The Reform UK leader said he 'absolutely' thinks such details should be released when asked about the matter at a news conference. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest unemployment statistics for New Zealand are due out tomorrow, and experts are divided ahead of the announcement. Many are projecting the market will have deteriorated further, but some are hoping things would have picked up. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump surprised New Zealand businesses with a new 15 percent tariff, and experts have crunched the numbers to find out what this could mean for our key sectors. The imposition of the new tariff on Kiwi exports is projected to cost the red meat sector an estimated $300 million and wine exporters $112 million. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and former Labour minister Stuart Nash joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Should NZ on Air fund reality TV? What about netball getting a boost? What do we think of all this? Another week, and more stories about small children being abused at the hands of their carers. Why do we not talk about this more? Can we change this? How do we feel about AI marking our kids' exams? Yet again, New World's run into some issues with their latest giveaway. Why does this keep happening? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to talk about kids being bashed by their families. We've had a really bad run of it - I don't know if you've realized - in the last few weeks. As far as I can see, just in the last 8 weeks, we've had the toddler in the suitcase, and we've had the baby in the bin in Auckland. We've also had a 2-month-old go to hospital with serious injuries that happened today, we've had a 3-month-old taken to hospital in Wellington in June, and we've had a 6-month-old critically injured at a Foxton Beach house in July. And we've hardly talked about this. I mean, we've talked about the toddler in the suitcase yesterday, world media talked about it too because it is so bizarre, it's hard to ignore. We also talked about the baby in the bin, that got about a day's worth of coverage, again, because that was pretty out there - putting a baby in a bin.  But everything else, almost no coverage. Now, do you know why that is? I mean, part of it is obviously that this is now not unusual anymore. We just bash our babies

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 5 August 2025, the Education Minister wants AI to mark most school exams by 2028. Heather asks the teachers union's Chris Abercrombie whether that's a good idea. The software retailers use to report theft is so good, it's overwhelming police with 8000 reports just last month. Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says it's actually a good news story. New World is yet again running out of its promotion products, meaning shoppers are being left empty handed after collecting stickers for weeks. Is this the weirdest story of the week? The man who is running for mayor in two different towns on opposite ends of the South Island - and why he's running under two different names. Andrew Maxwell Clarke speaks to Heather. Plus, the Huddle debates why we speak so little about kids getting hurt by their parents and whether a law change could help. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or where

Rules are being slashed for homeowners building small garden sheds and sleep-outs.  The Government today announced there will soon be no boundary distance rules for detached buildings smaller than 10 square metres.  Currently, the distance must at least match their height. Construction Minister Chris Penk explained that the rules needed to be updated for people trying to do more with less space. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A candidate claims his running for two different mayoralties is not an issue. Andrew Maxwell Clark's put his hat in the ring to replace his brother, Nobby Clark, as Invercargill's mayor. But he's also campaigning in his hometown, Tasman. He's campaigning as Andrew in Invercargill - and as Maxwell in Tasman. Clark says he put his hand up for Tasman before he knew the incumbent was running again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New World customers are struggling to get their hands on Smeg kitchenware, available under a 12-week promotion. They can collect one sticker for every $20 spent. But the highest-value option, the braiser, is running out - and New World says there won't be any extra deliveries.  Consumer NZ, CEO Jon Duffy, says New World has specified this is 'while stocks last'. But he says it's also required by law to have appropriate stocks.  "With these promotions, this is not their first rodeo, they've done these over the years - so they do know that these promotions are popular." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police systems used to track crime may be struggling to cope, with a growing number of reports coming in. Auror is an Auckland intelligence platform used by retailers to give police information on potential offenders.  It shows retail theft reports have doubled from 4000 a month in 2022 - to 8000 a month this year.  Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says the volume gives a good idea of the total crime picture.  "We want to put together where there's prolific offenders, and deal with the other matters." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A secondary teachers' union is dubious AI could adequately grade almost all school assessments within three years. The Government plans to replace NCEA with a system emphasising literacy and numeracy more.  The Education Minister is also now saying AI is already partly in use for marking - and NZQA is confident it could do almost all assessments by 2028. PPTA President, Chris Abercrombie, says he isn't convinced. "Seeing how the students write, understanding, reading between the lines - sometimes you have to figure out what the students are trying to say and I just don't know if AI is quite there yet to be able to do those kinds of things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's unsure if foreshore and seabed changes will spark major backlash. It's going ahead with plans to make it more difficult for iwi to get customary marine titles, giving them rights over certain coastline activity. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper weighed in on the changes - and speculated about the possible reactions.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index shows Australian consumer confidence has reached the highest level in over three years. More Australian households have reported feeling better off financially, with levels expected to grow in the coming months. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the RBA is set to meet next week - and economists are hopeful a rate cut will come. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has revealed a State of Origin game in New Zealand could become a reality. Reports claim the NRL is in negotiations with New Zealand government and tourism officials to take Origin to either Auckland or Christchurch in 2027. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controversial new foreshore and seabed legislation is expected to pass within months. The Government has confirmed it'll go ahead with changing the Marine and Coastal Areas Act. It follows a Supreme Court ruling, opposing an original Court of Appeal decision that could've made it easier for iwi to have ownership rights over coastlines. Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says there will be a reasonable hurdle to get over if a group wants a customary marine title. "The Supreme Court dealt with some of the issues that we were concerned about, but not all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The weather is set to take a turn in the UK, with storm warnings setting off travel alerts. Weather warnings have been upgraded for most of Scotland as Storm Floris bears down on the UK. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US markets cracked sharply last Friday, and experts are aiming to discover what happened.  Job market slumps, economic uncertainty and growing tariff tensions have been highlighted as key factors behind the drop. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A pair of Aussie comedians have taken a satirical look at the annoying aspects of the workplace in their book 'Wankernomics'. Are we guilty of using annoying phrases and spending too much time on LinkedIn. Donald Trump surprised New Zealand with a 15 percent tariff last week - do we stand a chance at negotiating a better deal?  The Government is set to scrap NCEA and overhaul the whole educational system - what do we make of this? Were these changes needed?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis Energy and the three other big power generators have signed agreements to establish a strategic energy reserve centred on Genesis’ Huntly Power Station. The deals - aimed at supporting national security of power supply - have been settled by Genesis, Meridian Energy, Mercury NZ and Contact Energy. The parties intend for the agreements to take effect from January 1, 2026. Genesis Energy chief executive Malcolm Johns says there's a clear case to keep the plant going - and Genesis couldn't do it on its own.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister reckons New Zealand will eventually be able to work out a better deal with the Trump administration following last week's shock announcement. President Donald Trump has unveiled a surprise 15 percent tariff on New Zealand - higher than that for both the UK and Australia.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there's a possibility things could improve, given the changing trading relationship between both nations. "The question for us is - if it does change, does that mean we get better treatment?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.