Larry Williams Drive

There's plenty of solutions being suggested to clear up the current energy crisis - and the former head of Mercury Energy has just unveiled a potential idea. Fraser Whineray recently suggested the time has come to drop the carbon price that we've put on coal through the ETS in order to bring power prices down.  He says the ETS is designed to encourage people to use green alternatives, but there isn't a green alternative applicable here as of yet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former New Zealand Prime Ministers John Key and Helen Clark will attend a large Chinese military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese victory against Japan in World War Two. The ceremony in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday will also feature leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.  National Minister Chris Bishop says he thinks the invitation reflects the historical circumstances of their Governments. "Helen Clark and John Key - their Governments had good relations, we did the free trade deal under the Clark Government, which continued on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has found fewer students are studying languages now than in the 1930s - and educators are calling for a solution. The report, Language Learning for New Zealand’s Future, says second language learning should be a core requirement for students from years seven to ten. President of the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers, Juliet Kennedy, says it's important for Kiwi students to learn another language. "It's also really important that students have a chance to learn other languages, including heritage languages which are spoken in our community - but also world stage languages such as Chinese or French or Spanish or German or Japanese." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has risen two spots to third place in this year's Global Peace Index.  Countries are ranked based on measures including societal safety and security, and the degree of militarisation.  We currently sit behind Iceland and Ireland, and ahead of Austria and Switzerland.  Otago University Emeritus Peace and Conflict Studies professor Kevin Clements says recent defence purchases could count against us next year.  He says New Zealand's never not been in the top five.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Immigration Minister hopes allowing people on the Golden Visa to buy a home here will boost the economy in the long-run. The coalition's come to an agreement - allowing people on Active Investor Plus visas to buy or build one home, worth at least $5 million - if they invest at least another $5 million into the economy. Erica Stanford says she didn't want anything to skew the market - and $5 million seemed like a good figure. "It means that these people can come, settle in New Zealand, get used to the landscape, spend more money here - but also not skew the property market, which is what we wanted to avoid." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes from one electricity retailer that the Government may underwrite generation projects.  The Government is expected to make decisions this month on reforming the energy sector - after it asked global consultancy company Frontier Economics to report back on what's needed.  Octopus Energy chief executive Margaret Cooney says underwriting's worked in the past with the ultra-fast broadband rollout.  "You can do that by issuing a tender, getting long-term contracts and new supply to come into market as soon as possible."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition's confident allowing certain wealthy foreign buyers to buy a home won't drive up house prices. It's agreed to pass changes, allowing people on an Active Investor Plus visa to buy or build one home in New Zealand - worth a minimum of $5 million. The visa requires an additional investment of at least $5 million, on top of the price of the home. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these changes make sense for investors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wife of a gunman who allegedly killed two police officers in rural Victoria last week has urged her husband to surrender.  Dezi Freeman is accused of opening fire on police officers, who were carrying out a raid at property in Porepunkah. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the police have been dealing with adverse weather conditions as the manhunt enters its seventh day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are prepared to wait as long as they can to clear Cortez Ratima to play Saturday's test against South Africa. The Chiefs halfback is battling a rib injury - but is yet to be ruled out. Coach Scott Robertson says they will wait, otherwise Finlay Christie and debutant Kyle Preston will play. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's relief for regional airlines, as they receive help to battle soaring costs. The Government's offering up to $30 million in loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund.  It's also approved funding to allow digital upgrades to be made in order to integrate regional bookings with the platforms of major carriers. Air Chathams CEO Duane Emeny says this is good news for the sector. "We're looking to hopefully roll out a domestic trial later this year, but it's expensive, I can tell you, having gone through it. So any support that we can get for that is greatly appreciated."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 29 August 2025, Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley has quit with immediate effect. Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells Heather if he hadn't left voluntarily, she would have sacked him. The Marokopa fugitive dad and his kids have burgled a dairy this week - but police don't sound like they're actively trying to find them. Why did Heather have to apologise to TVNZ CEO Jodi O'Donnell? A member of the Mongrel Mob has asked a judge for his confiscated patch back and the judge has said yes.. because of tikanga. Law Professor Al Gillespie says it was a good call. Plus, the Sports Huddle on this week's discussion about the risk of longlasting brain injuries from rugby - and whether more needs to be done to prevent them. 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.

Now, I've got a huge amount of respect for the police, and I very much, almost weakly appreciate what it is that they do for us, but I think we have to call it. Tom Phillips is embarrassing them. I mean, the fact that he is still out there with his kids coming up 4 years now is embarrassing for the police because it looks like they're having rings run around them by a skinny guy from Mara Koppa. He makes a mockery of them every single time he pops up to nick milk from a dairy or shop in full view of the public in Bunnings, or do a job on a bank. Every time someone in the family pleads for him to come home, every time an international media outlet writes another fascinated piece about him being out there. Every winter, when our own media remember that the family are still out there and draw attention to it again, every time that happens, we are reminded that our police cannot find a guy and his kids in the bush around Mara Koppa. Now, I don't know what's going on here. I have a suspicion, I've shared it with y

The British court of appeal is set to make a decision on the 'asylum hotels' around the country.  Asylum seekers have been staying in hotels at the taxpayers expense, and the government is expected to make an announcement later today. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey says that tension around these hotels is rising and protests outside these hotels are getting 'pretty fraught.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 25,000 visitors from around Australasia are headed to Tauranga for the AIMS games this weekend. Around 14,000 kids from across the continent will be competing in 27 different sports. AIMS Games tournament director Kelly Schischka told Heather duPlessis-Allan that there are 431 schools being represented, including new competitors from Fiji and the Cook Islands.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reserve Bank board chairman Neil Quigley has resigned “with immediate effect” in the wake of the shambolic handling of Adrian Orr’s resignation as Governor. Finance Minister Nicola Willis made the announcement just before 6pm on Friday - the day after the Reserve Bank revealed Orr temporarily stepped down as Governor a week before the public was told he resigned The Finance Minister says she did not ask the Reserve Bank Chair to quit, following news he's resigned with immediate effect.  Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan that having completed key work streams with the bank, Quigley said the timing was appropriate. Willis says she raised criticism around the board's handling of information relating to the former Governor's exit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Rugby editor Elliott Smith and Canterbury sports reader Nick Bey join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.  Does rugby need a rule change to protect against CTE? And how much are people willing to pay to watch the FIFA world cup next year? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legal expert has recommended that the Government re-write its poorly written gang patch law.  It follows a judge's recent decision allowing a Mongrel Mob member to have his patch back.  Waikato University Law Professor Al Gillespie says the judge interpreted the law fairly. He says the law is ambiguous as it doesn't say the patch must be destroyed.  Gillespie says the law will need to be straightened out back in parliament.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have a balance to manage as they continue the hunt for Marokopa fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children. Police have released CCTV footage of a retail burglary in the King Country town of Piopio on Wednesday involving two people they believe to be the Marokopa father and one of his children. Lawyer Matthew Hague, who has served in the Police and Defence Force, says Police need to balance bringing this to a conclusion - with the risk of Phillips having weapons. But he told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this doesn't mean Police will be passive. Hague says they'll be working with the community, and using a variety of resources - but they'll be trying to avoid a direction confrontation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are questions over whether TVNZ cut too many jobs as it turns a surprisingly strong profit.  The broadcaster's reported an after-tax profit of nearly $26million dollars - after an $85million dollar loss last year.  But it comes after the broadcaster cut jobs - including canning production of programmes like Fair Go, Sunday and the midday and night-time news bulletins.  Talking to Heather Du-Plessis Allan, CEO Jodi O'Donnell denied that the cuts were excessive.  She says the company had to make decisions to ensure the business remained sustainable into the future.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consultation on the Government's proposed overhaul of the main secondary school qualification's open to mid-September.  It includes axing level one, and replacing levels two and three with certificates, that aim to be internationally comparable.  Auckland Principal Claire Amos doesn't want the system scrapped, and told Heather du Plessis-Allan that we need a system that has wraparound support.  She says we need more structure and support around teaching and learning.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.