Larry Williams Drive

Hopes Canterbury's aerospace sector will continue going from strength to strength, with a permanent test flight space confirmed at Tawhaki.  The National Aerospace centre, west of Banks Peninsula, can now hold tests without continual re-permits.  Tāwhaki executive director John Holt told Heather du Plessis-Allan this helps remove red tape and paperwork, adding that it's difficult in the early construction stages, to find a safe aircraft testing place. The sector now aims to boost its economic value from 250 million in 2023, to one billion dollars a year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a strong chance that this has been Moana Pasifika's best and last season in super rugby.  Do you want them to have another one?  And if so, how much should the taxpayer put in to save it?  Would you pay $7million? Because that’s apparently what they’re short.  The Whānau Ora money is gone and it's understood that Sky is pulling its sponsorship of half a million dollars a year.  World rugby also wants to either reduce or completely cut the money it puts in. That’s around $1.7million a year.  So, for a club that costs about 12 m a year to run, it is short around $7million.  My answer to the first question I asked you … is yes. Moana Pasifika should be saved.  There is a very good reason to have a super ruby team dedicated to giving professional opportunities to Tongan and Samoan rugby players.  They were also one of the best success stories of the season.  My answer to the second question is that the taxpayer should pay nothing.   I can almost guara

New data shows Nigel Farage and the Reform Party would win more seats than Labour and the Conservatives in the next general election. Political analysts have revealed that Farage and Reform would win 278 seats if a general election were to take place tomorrow - the most of any party.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says the next election is four years away - but Prime Minister Starmer's team should be taking this data into account going forward.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show Nike's stock has plummeted 68 percent from its November 2021 peak. Experts say it's a textbook 'fallen angel' - a former market darling now trading at beaten-down prices. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group recently ousted chair Toby Williams. Williams lost the chairmanship  to Marlborough provincial vice president Richard Dawkins during the council annual meeting. The Country host Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! We recently found out Whānau Ora funding has been used to fund Moana Pasifika. What do we make of this? 15-storey apartment buildings will soon go up in some Auckland suburbs near strategic train stations - and the locals aren't happy. Are the detractors being NIMBY's - or are people right to be concerned? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How disappointing is the revelation that Whānau Ora money has been used to fund the Moana Pasifika rugby team?  How disappointing is that? And this is not a criticism of the team. I mean, the team has been one of the rockstar stories of the Super Rugby season. This is about the funding. This is the kind of revelation, I reckon, that does huge damage to public confidence and Government use of taxpayer money. Because this is money that, to our minds, is supposed to be going to some of the most vulnerable people, to helping Māori and Pasifika families with things like health, medical appointments, baby jabs, education, housing, that kind of thing. But instead, we find out it's been going to fund a rugby team for elite athletes - and this has been going on for at least 2 years. One of the outfits that's contracted to spend final order funds, Pacifica Medical Association Group - we're going to call them PMA - has been giving $770,000 a year to Moana Pasifika. Now, if they do it again this year

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 June 2025, Labour MP Willie Jackson reflects on the sudden death of his friend and Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Should taxpayer money be used to pay for a rugby team? Heather dives into the Moana Pasifika story with NZ Herald senior journalist Kate MacNamara. The drug that made Oprah skinny is coming to New Zealand from next week. Novo Nordisk's Dr Ana Svensson tells Heather Wegovy could potentially help up to 2.8 million overweight Kiwis. NZ Rugby's Mike Hester gets grilled by Heather over the incident of referee abuse that's led to all rugby being postponed by the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union. Plus, the Huddle debates Nimbyism in the light of a Government directive that will see 15 storey apartment buildings in Auckland suburbs. 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.

Workers taking part in partial strikes could soon have their pay docked under new legislation coming out of Parliament. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden recently confirmed the changes to the Employment Relations Act - and claimed they would be fairer for workers. PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says employers will now be allowed to dock 10 percent of pay for workers who participate in low-level strike action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been raised after Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union cancelled a series of Saturday matches. The provincial union made the call after the abuse of a referee at last Saturday's game between Kapiti College and Mana College, which saw him escorted to his car out of safety fears. NZ Rugby's Mike Hester says there was abuse from spectators that prompted the match getting called off. "A lot of these things can happen on the sideline with chat from spectators to coaches and the like. The details of it - again, it depends on who you talk to - but certainly, it was sufficient enough that the referee had to make a decision."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise faces questions over disclosure and transparency at ownership level. It recently came to light that the team received taxpayer money indirectly through Whanau Ora contracts. NZ Herald journalist Kate McNamara says it's unclear how much public money funded the team - but investigations are ongoing. "It may be that all of their funding came from the Whanau Ora contract - but it may be that there's a small amount of funding from another source in there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Willie Jackson will attend Kemp's tangi in Taihape over the weekend.   Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died today aged 50, following a battle with kidney disease. He says Labour isn't thinking about the by-election triggered in Tāmaki Makaurau. "We'll turn our mind to it next week - and we don't mind having a chat about it as we get into it. But it's not something we should probably be talking about at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not everyone's a fan of Government's efforts to build taller in central Auckland suburbs. The Government is requiring the council to legislate for apartments at least 15 storeys high around the Mount Eden, Kingsland, and Morningside Stations. It will be 10 storeys near the Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue terminals.  Albert-Eden Local Board Chair, Kendyl Smith, says this feels rushed, and hasn't included any consultation with residents. "So to be told overnight that you might have a 15-storey block beside you is very unpalatable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament adjourned early today, after marking the death of Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Kemp died aged 50 following kidney disease. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says this came as a shock - with tributes coming in from many key politicians.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The jury in the trial of triple-murder accused Erin Patterson is edging towards beginning deliberations in Australia's Victoria. The 50-year-old also faces a charge of attempted murder over a toxic beef Wellington lunch she served to her estranged husband's family in 2023. She maintains her innocence - claiming it was a terrible accident. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Justice Christopher Beale has left clear instructions for the jury - and told them to resist bias, prejudice and sympathy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union chief executive Corey Kennett says he is drawing a line in the sand by canning all rugby matches this weekend after a referee was so seriously abused he had to be escorted to his car over safety fears. Last month, the union said in response to escalating abuse towards match officials - highlighted by a person threatening to stab a referee - that they would cancel all senior club games if behaviour didn’t improve. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The count-down's on for New Zealand chemist sales of weight-loss drug Wegovy. A pharmacist has told our newsroom the hunger-suppressing drug will be available on prescription from next Tuesday Novo Nordisk Oceania Senior Medical Director Dr Ana Svensson says the cost of the drug is expected to be around $500, as it's not funded by Pharmac. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is set to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs - with plans to join NATO's airborne nuclear mission. Downing Street has labelled the move "the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation." UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these jets can also drop conventional weapons. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports indicate the global housing market has entered a significant downturn. Existing home sales have neared recessionary levels and new home sales are expected to fall. Milford Asset Management's Brendan Larsen explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports reveal the Government did get lobbied by the Banking Association over a proposed law change to prevent costly class action lawsuits. Minister Scott Simpson claimed this wasn't the case earlier - and claimed the banks hadn't called for it.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.