Larry Williams Drive

The Department of Conservation's declined a permit to clear vegetation at the Central Otago site - citing missing details on rehoming thousands of lizards.  Resources Minister Shane Jones has voiced frustration it puts hundreds of jobs at risk.  But Chief Executive of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Nicola Toki, says the lizards' existence are already under threat so mining would put their population on the brink of extinction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston's done it again. The old political workhorse of the Pacific just keeps getting more popular. New Zealand First has overtaken ACT in the latest Taxpayer's Union Curia Poll - it's now the third most popular party. I'll give you a break down of the numbers shortly, but this has got to be ego bruising for Seymour. He's just got his feet under the Deputy's desk and he's been overtaken in the polls by the bloke he's replaced. Not that simply being the Deputy PM gets you votes, but he's trying to make a good fist of it. Seymour's holding press conferences left, right and centre. Yesterday, a stand-up reacting to no change in the OCR. Today, a stand-up on Stats NZ numbers. Luxon's overseas on holiday. Winston's East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Seymour's been bogged down with Regulatory Standard's Bill, the Treaty bill and school lunches. Winston's been flying around the world keeping us in line with China and staving off Trump's tariffs... all while celebrating his 80th birthday. A

Germany has accused the Chinese military of targeting its aircraft during an EU operation over the Red Sea. The Chinese ambassador has been summoned to the German foreign ministry over the incident. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this comes as concerns mount over China's influence on critical technologies and security infrastructure in Europe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unions are urging Uber to consider New Zealanders needs - after drivers protested outside the Supreme Court today. It's over an Uber appeal of a 2022 ruling that deemed four drivers employees, allowed things like sick leave and holiday pay. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank left the OCR on hold at 3.25 percent - with the bank claiming it was waiting for more economic data. Economists widely suspected the RBNZ wouldn't cut rates any further, and they believe there's more cuts to come. Milford Asset Management's Remy Morgan unpacked the market reactions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government wants beneficiaries to help with the flood clean-up in the South Island. Is this a good idea? Is there a case to make work available under these circumstances? There's a plan to revive the moa from extinction. Good idea or waste of time? A survey of public servants has found more than half of them think their colleagues were not hired on merit. Do we sense a problem here? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ACT MP claims cultural requirements in resource consents are creating extra costs and slowing down solar farm projects.  Undersecretary for RMA Reform, Simon Court says at one Hawke's Bay site local hapu have to be invited to perform karakia every time a native tree is removed.  He says ultimately it will be consumers missing out.  "What this means is that if solar farms can't get built, or if they get built but there's all this extra cost, that's going to add to your power bill." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 9 July 2025, Infometrics' Brad Olsen breaks down today's OCR decision and tells Ryan Bridge when we might get another cut to interest rates. The Government is keen to get unemployed job seekers involved in the flood clean-up in Nelson/Tasman. MSD's Craig Churchill tells Ryan so far just six jobseekers have put their hands up. Zoologist professor Philipp Seddon is not a fan of trying to revive the moa and won't hold back on why it's a dumb idea. Plus, the Huddle debates why public servants think half of their co-workers didn't get the job on merit. 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 moa was a visionary bird well ahead of its time. Bringing them back from extinction makes perfect sense - we'll be setting them free. They can finally live their best life. Spread their wings - metaphorically, of course, cause they don't actually have wings. But they'll be free in this brave, new modern world. Firstly, they're vegan. So hip and trendy box number one - big tick. Wait till somebody introduces them to the incredible burger, or eggplant sandwiches with vegan slaw. They'll love that. But wait, it gets woker. The women are dominant - one and half times bigger than the men and two and half times the weight. Trendy, progressive box number two - tick. Number 3 - turns out they were quite oppressed back in the day. Victims, you could call them. Also very trendy today. Hunted to extinction by men with spears, slaughtered and eaten. You know what that means in 2025 - lived experience. Wait for the wellness podcast and the Oprah interview. And then there's the obvious but awkward issue of being a

The Public Service Commissioner says there's signs of optimism and room for improvement in this year's survey of public servants.  The poll of 40 thousand workers found 80 percent think there's a staff shortage and workloads are too high.  Commissioner Brian Roche says AI, not more staff, could be the answer.  He says he's not making much of the finding - a third of public servants thought they were underpaid. "I've never been in a workplace where there's an element of people who don't think they should get paid more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lucky escape for a near-hypothermic Wellington tramper and his dog after the pair were rescued from freezing overnight conditions in the Tararua Ranges.  David Graham and Winnie were winched to safety in an Air Force helicopter about 4.30am yesterday, where he was given the best hot chocolate of his life.  Graham says he was well-prepared, but conditions deteriorated - and by 9pm, his sleeping bag froze.  "When my dog started shaking, I realised that the temperature was dropping pretty quick, and so at that point I got in touch with emergency services." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

600 Tasman jobseekers have the opportunity to help clean up flood damage in the upper South Island.  The Government's activated a beneficiary task force in Tasman and Marlborough. Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner, Craig Churchill, says they're targeting jobseekers closest to the area.  "We've actually had a lot of jobseekers register interest to help in events like this. And this is a significant event that's going to take quite some time to recover from, people are really willing to help." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate still looks more likely than not, according to one expert. The Reserve Bank's kept the OCR unchanged at 3.25 percent today, following six consecutive cuts. It's waiting for more economic data, before further moves. But Infometrics principal economist, Brad Olsen, says the bank's explicitly signalling the chance of more cuts. "If things continue to evolve as they broadly expect, that will give them more scope to continue to cut the Official Cash Rate - maybe one or two cuts by the end of this year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death toll from flash floods in Texas has risen to 111 - including 28 children - and the numbers missing have skyrocketed to 173. It's the US's deadliest freshwater flooding in nearly 50 years. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says fingers have been pointed at the Republicans in charge - claiming their cuts to emergency services have worsened the impact of the disaster.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public hearings for the second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry got under way this week, and there's been speculation if Jacinda Ardern will make an appearance. Ardern says she will provide evidence to assist the Royal Commission of Inquiry, if asked to. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says key decision makers and senior public servants are set to speak next month. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra motivation for Queensland ahead of tonight's State of Origin series decider against New South Wales in Sydney. Maroons skipper Cameron Munster has returned to camp after the death of his father, Steven. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Otago University professor says extinction is forever and the moa isn't coming back. A US genetic engineering project with backing from Peter Jackson claims it might restore the extinct South Island moa to New Zealand within a decade. But zoology professor Philip Seddon says he's questioning the researchers' goal and whether it's even possible. "Its genetics will be different, its physiology will be different, its behaviour will be different. There's a lot of question marks about whether a GMO version of a moa is actually going to be useful at all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is looking to plug up a multi-billion dollar financial hole - leading some to speculate about the possible introduction of new taxes. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has advocated for the Government introducing a tax on wealth. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this suggestion has prompted backlash, with experts claiming wealth taxes have historically never worked. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has defied market expectations by leaving its cash rate target unchanged at 3.85 percent. Market expectations were for the central bank to cut its rate by 25 basis points. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham this came as a surprise to experts - but the central bank opted to wait ahead of the CPI release. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson has takne home the title of New Zealand's top young farmer. The 26-year-old was crowned the 57th FMG Young Farmer of the Year last weekend after the final event in Invercargill.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.