Larry Williams Drive

I've been thinking overnight about the news yesterday that a second Christchurch school has decided to put the walls back up in their classrooms and abandon those modern learning barn style spaces that we were doing in favour of going back to the traditional single class.  The school is Shirley Boys High.  And then last year, Rangiora High School did the same thing.  Something that Rangiora High School's principal said struck me.  He said, the results have been a huge shift in engagement, in attendance, in achievement.  It is not what I was expecting. I was expecting a small shift, but it has gone through the roof. It's made a massive difference in everything in the school.  And that reminded me a lot of what the principals and the teachers said after we banned the phones in schools.  Remember that we banned the phones, and suddenly they were saying, well, the difference is huge.  But all we've done in both cases is the obvious thing, isn't it?  I mean, obviously,

Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping spoke over the phone last night.  They agreed to launch a new round of trade talks in their first known conversation since the US president returned to the White House in January. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis joins the show to discuss.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 6 June. 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.

Prominent New Zealand leaders are coming together to express their concern about the country’s foreign policy direction. In an open leader, Kiwi figures including Helen Clark, Sir David Carter and Dr Don Brash are warning the Government against taking an adversarial stance against China as part of an alignment with the US. It comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s upcoming trip to China. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the letter. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports Journalist Andrew Gourdie and Oceania Football Confederation Spokesperson Matt Brown join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle. Rob Walter has been announced as the new Black Caps coach - how big a loss is Gary Stead for the team? Super Rugby finals quarter-finals are on this weekend. What can we expect? And Red Bull have confirmed they will offer Yuki Tsunoda a luxury Liam Lawson was never afforded - “time and support”. The Sports Huddle discusses all this and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new option has opened up to Kiwi’s in their end-of-life choices. New Zealand’s first water crematorium has opened in Christchurch and operates as a more environmentally friendly option than flame cremation. Christchurch Water Crematorium Director Deborah Richards talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the business. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SkyCity has filed legal proceedings against Fletcher Construction. The casino giant is seeking more than $300 million in damages caused by delays in building the Auckland Central Convention Centre. Fletcher Construction’s defending itself against SkyCity’s claim for further liquidated damages after already paying a significant sum. New Zealand Shareholders Association spokesperson Oliver Mander talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the situation. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man said to be New Zealand’s most successful cricket coach in history has been appointed coach of the Black Caps. Rob Walter replaces Gary Stead in all formats. He is he former South Africa, Otago and Central Districts boss and will take charge until the end of the T20 World Cup in November 2028. Rob Walter talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about his new role. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump and his now former-colleague Elon Musk are officially feuding. A disagreement over spending in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has led to mud to the pair flinging personal insults back and forth. In a series of posts on X, Musk called for Trump’s impeachment and claimed he was involved with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. KNX News Presenter out of Los Angeles Charles Feldman talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about where the relationship sits now. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new travel ban by Donald Trump is affectingpeople from a dozen countries from entering the United States. Those countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Hati, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It’s a resurrection of his first term policy. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the ban, Elon Musk and Trump’s blow up and are Walmart customers really having their shopping delivered by drone? LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s on the cards in the first week of the Super Rugby quarter-finals? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about what we can expect. And the Black Caps have a new coach in Rob Walter – what are his biggest challenges? LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Increasing levels of depression and anxiety have been recorded in young people since around 2011. The novel ‘The Anxious Generation’ makes the case that young people today are suffering because a play-based childhood has been replaced by a phone-based childhood. Its author, Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt from New York University’s Stern School of Business talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the issue. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th June 2025, The Māori Party's Privileges Committee decision finally comes to a vote. Political commentator Bryce Edwards speaks to Heather. Matthew Lane, the general manager of Night 'n Day reacts to the Commerce Commission's latest attempt to crack down on anti-competitive practices from the supermarkets. Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi says the Government is making good strides in its effort to avoid further tariffs from Donald Trump. Plus, the Huddle talks about Westgold raising their prices in response to butter raffles being held at schools around the country. 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.

The US says the UK and all other NATO allies must agree to spend at lest 5 percent of national income on defence and security 'starting now'. Matthew Whitaker, Donald Trump's ambassador to the NATO alliance, made this statement earlier, and claimed these nations needed to make a 'commitment'. UK correspondent Elizabeth Callaghan explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US debt burden has been thrust into the spotlight - and it's an ongoing point of concern. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains why this is happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The big debate on the Maori Party MPs punishment is taking place in Parliament this afternoon. What do we make of all this? Police investigated complaints against former Beehive staffer Michael Forbes, including him allegedly filming women through windows of houses - but decided against charging him. Do we think the police should have dug deeper into these complaints? Westgold has raised their butter prices after schools started doing fundraisers with their cheap butter. Is this an acceptable business practice?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's Jamie Mackay is celebrating another industry success - and he joined Heather to discuss the win. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s gas supply is reducing faster and sooner than previously forecast, new reports from experts warn. As of January 1, 2025, natural gas reserves have reduced 27 percent compared to last year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said. Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie says there's reason to be concerned. "Put simply, with the rapidly reducing gas supply, our gas reserves are at historic low levels. New Zealand is facing higher energy prices, increased reliance on imported coal, uncertainty for industrial users." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has slammed the Government for not getting a better trade deal out of the current Trump administration. New Zealand currently has to pay a 10 percent tariff on all imports on New Zealand products out of the US. But the opposition has claimed the Government is failing Kiwis by 'being comfortable' with a 10 percent tariff. Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi says the Government is watching and consulting with trading partners. "It's doing all those right sort of things. You have to remember that we are being charged as an additional tariff at the lowest end of the scale - we don't have a lot to offer the United States." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Brown and Desley Simpson have confirmed they'll run together in this year's Auckland mayoral race. It's scotched rumours Simpson would run herself. She's been deputy since Brown was elected mayor three years ago. She says she wants to do the right thing for Auckland - and she thinks this is the way to go. "Sometimes you've got to put Auckland first and not yourself - and the mayor has really delivered, this term, some very big changes for Auckland, and still has more to come."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.