Larry Williams Drive

The big health news today is that the WHO is essentially calling for the funding of weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for people who would otherwise not be able to afford it. So basically, make it not just for the rich, but for the poor as well. The WHO doesn't actually say governments should be the ones funding the drugs. An alternative interpretation of what they've said is that the people who make the drugs should drop the price to make them more affordable, but that's obviously not going to happen because profits. So you can probably assume, the bill lands with governments around the world. Now, that's a nice idea. And given how effective these drugs are in dropping weight off people, it would probably make a massive difference to the obesity rates in New Zealand, but it is simply not affordable for New Zealand. We have done the numbers before on the show. I'll run you through them again, OK? The drugs cost $500 a month. There are 1.5 million Kiwis who are considered obese. If we funded

The UK Government has announced plans to restrict the right to a jury trial in England and Wales to solve a backlog of 80,000 cases. Serious crimes like murder and rape will continue to be sent to jury trial, but minor crimes like shoplifting will be dealt with directly by a judge or magistrate.  UK Correspondent Edna Brady has seen the need for reform first hand. "I've spent three decades going to court cases all over the UK and it never has ceased to stagger me. The inefficiency, the delays, just how slow everything is," she told Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle host of Q&A and Saturday Mornings Jake Tame and Iron Duke Partners managing director Phil O'Reilly joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New South Wales is considering a plan to halve the power and top speed of e-bikes after a rider died in a collision with a garbage truck. Are e-bikes and e-scooters too fast? The World Health Organization officially backs Ozempic and says it should be made affordable. Should we publicly fund Ozempic? And they revisit the local government rates cap after letting the idea sit for 24-hours.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has added two new safety warnings about mental health and contraception for people taking weightloss drugs. The TGA said that suicidal behaviour and ideation have been reported with these relatively new GLP-1 receptor agonists and, despite no proven causal association, they feel awareness and caution is needed.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "There's still not a lot of information available. (Ozempic) hasn't been around long enough." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper chats to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the Andrew Coster inquiry, and Tamatha Paul calling for the defunding of NZ Police. Soper denies Paul's concerns over race bias in arrests made by NZ Police. "I don't think there's racism in the Police at all," he said.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced the details on its plan for rates caps - councils will be capped at 4%.They will not be able to raise their rates by more than 4%, and the plan will start being implemented in a couple of years' time, sort of mid 27, and then will be fully in place by mid 2029.There will be exemptions to the rate cap. The high growth councils will be exempt from the cap. Councils that experience a natural disaster, something like bad weather, a quake, whatever, they will be exempt. Councils that need to catch up on infrastructure underinvestment, which I thought would have been most councils, they will be exempt.They will have to apply. The exempt will not be automatic. They will have to apply for an exemption, but those are the grounds they can apply on, which I think sounds like potentially a lot of councils who will be able to get around the 4% cap.Now, on the politics of it, it is incredibly smart to announce this - it is incredibly popular. One poll found that about 7

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 1 December. 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.

As expected, the Reserve Bank cut the OCR to 2.25% last week - but an unexpected side effect has been a lack of effect. The Reserve Bank announced that this would be the end of cuts, sending the wholesale market into a panic and, therefore, seeing no change in interest rates.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "my message to the banks is always the same, which is pass on as much as you possibly can because it's good for the economy." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last weeks OCR cut brought hope of lower interest rates but the wholesale market seems to have been spooked by the Reserve Bank ruling out further cuts.  The term wholesale interest rates have jumped in response. ASB Chief Economist told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "we certainly put the the cost of wholesale borrowing up a bit higher as a result of this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday the Government announced an annual 2-4% rates cap range will be fully implemented by 2029. The cap applies to all rates, including general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges, but excludes water charges and other non-rates revenue like fees and charges. Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "it's going to be tough Heather, but guess what, it's been tough on everyone - households, businesses. "You think about those on fixed income, in particular, double-digit rate increases, some up to 20%. It's just simply not feasible, and that's what we've been hearing loud and clear from ratepayers" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last week four men have been arrested in Sydney for allegations of involvement in a Sydney-based international paedophile network. The network is said to distribute and facilitate child sex abuse material through a website administered internationally. This was uncovered in an investigation into the online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic and Satanic themes. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson told Heather du Plessis-Allan the men arrested were allegedly part of a media network aiming to expose sex abuse rings. "So it gives the idea obviously that they're there to help, that they're there to uncover these sorts of rings, but the people involved are allegedly also paedophiles themselves," Peterson said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey of more than 30,000 of New Zealand’s Year 10 students shows that the number of teens who vape regularly has dropped by half since it's peak in 2021.  The number of teenagers who vape on a daily basis has also dropped from “peak vape” of 10.1% in 2022, to 7.1%. Auckland Grammar headmaster Tim O'Connor says he has noticed the shift but doesn't know what it can be attributed to. "I don't know what's going on to tell you the truth. I don't know whether it's us being more effective, or the messages happening, or if it's just random," he told Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 28 November 2025, police have arrested more people in relation to a huge drug smuggling ring at Auckland Airport. A trial to only collect rubbish from Aucklanders every two weeks is off to a bad start. The council has revealed that almost 80% of the feedback has been negative. Consumer NZ has revealed the worst deals you can buy for Black Friday. After years of being mothballed, Waiwera Thermal Springs is getting revamped - the man behind the redevelopment explains the vision. Plus, the Sports Huddle debates what the heck is going on at Cricket NZ and whether the proposed new T20 competition would save or ruin the local game. 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.

I've reached the conclusion that when it comes to the banks and mortgage rates, the only option you've got left is to hustle. You're on your own here. It has been 2 days since the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate, and by how much do you think the big banks have cut their fixed rates? No, not a jot. Not, not a single basis point. Absolutely nothing has come off their fixed rates. It's not particularly helpful from the banks cause, you know, we're trying to get the country out of recession and the point of cutting the OCR is that the mortgage rates come down and then when you refix, you've got more disposable cash and the more cash you have, the more you're gonna spend and the faster we're gonna get out of this recession. So thumbs up and thanks very much to the big banks for not helping. Obviously, it's smart business for them. They need to make as much money as they can. The prediction is they will eventually cut the OCR cut their mortgage rates, but it'll be next year. It won't be this side of Christm

A three-month long investigation has revealed that many of the offers available this Black Friday are not the bargain they may seem to be.  Consumer NZ conducted an investigation into Briscoes, Noel Leeming, Farmers and Harvey Norman, and found that customers could have picked up the same items at a similar or lower price over the three-month investigation.  Consumer NZ's Head of Research Gemma Rasmussen told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, 'there's so much hype around Black Friday, but the deals are a little dubious.' She said that it's important consumers do their research before hitting the shops.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle: Sports Commentator Nicky Styris and NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news. NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink is in hot water over his stance on the proposed T20 league, will it cost him his job? The international Judo Federation has allowed Russian athletes to compete again, breaking away from many global sports organisations who banned Russia after their invasion of Ukraine. And when will we finally get confirmation about Liam Lawson's future in F1? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new plan to make Auckland safer is being welcomed by the city's main business association.  Today Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown unveiled their action plan - including boosting outreach teams to connect rough sleepers with support, and a review of bylaws.  Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Heather du-Plessis Allan that the plan is broad.  She says it picks up things businesses have been crying out for, and while the proof's in the pudding, businesses have got their point across.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction we haven't seen the last of a transnational crime syndicate operating out of Auckland airport. Operation Matata's seen 43 arrests since February, including 20 border workers - allegedly involved with smuggling large quantities of meth and cocaine.  It's thought the group were exploiting baggage handlers at the airport.  Chair of the ministerial advisory group on organised crime Steve Symon told Heather du Plessis-Allan that authorities have done a fantastic job rooting out that many offenders.  But he suspects either there are more, or if not, they'll be replaced like they were at the start of the year.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is hosting a conference in Auckland this weekend, with speculation rising around the potential for new policy announcements from the opposition.  And expelled Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has called on Labour to show 'strategic restraint' in Māori electorates, as he believes it's the best way to unseat the current government.  Thomas Coughland told Heather duPlessis-Allan that it's an 'interesting strategy', and one that has the potential to backfire.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are strongly rejecting a proposed fortnightly rubbish collection trial in select suburbs. The six month trial would start in February, and involve 10-thousand homes in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth. Of the more than five thousand submissions, 78 percent were opposed. Auckland Council's Waste Solutions General Manager Justine Haves told Heather du Plessis-Allan that a final decision will be made next month, but their goal is to cut down waste. She says there's lots of evidence from other councils that fortnightly collections makes a huge difference to the volume of waste. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.