Larry Williams Drive

Winston Peters says the Government's providing the best possible advice to New Zealanders in Iran and Israel.  This afternoon, the Foreign Affairs Minister called the escalation of tension in the Middle East the most 'uncertain' geopolitical circumstances he's ever seen.  At last count, there are 50 Kiwis registered as being in Iran, and 80 in Israel.  Peters says leaving could be challenging, given that airports are closed.  "It's the evolving and possibly worsening situation that will make people's minds up - all we can do is give them the best advice possible, on an hourly basis sometimes."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed today that changes were coming to existing sick leave terms. In 2021, Labour and the Greens doubled statutory sick leave from 5 to 10 days as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Christopher Luxon said Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden is working on new changes - but it prompted concerns from some. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese is set to meet US President Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time at the G7 summit in Canada. It's expected Albanese will use these discussions to make the case for an exemption to trade tariffs and talk up the AUKUS agreement. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Trump will use these discussions to encourage Australia to boost up their defence spending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland City has suffered a brutal defeat to Germany's Bayern Munich. The German side were absolutely ruthless on Monday morning in Cincinnati, with a 10-0 thumping of the amateur National League team. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's greyhound racing industry is set to close from July next year - but Greyhound Racing NZ doesn't want to pay for the incoming shutdown. Recently released documents show the Government is planning to take $15 million from the organisation's savings to pay the admin costs of shuttering the sector for good. Greyhound Racing NZ CEO Edward Rennell says the Government brought this on themselves. "It's also money that could go to support the participants who are losing their livelihoods in the regions who've had no consideration provided in terms of financial support." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let me tell you about my colleague Kylie's reaction to that Air India plane crash last night.  She was in bed. She was playing on her phone as you do, and the news came in at about 9 o'clock.  Immediately, she looked, she suspected it, looked up what kind of plane it was, exactly as she thought: a Boeing.  Then she immediately looked up what plane her 12-year-old daughter is on to Samoa this Sunday —exactly as she expected, a Boeing— and she freaked out.  Now fortunately for her, she's got a partner with common sense, and actually, she herself is reasonably rational, so she's not going to be pulling her daughter off that flight. But she is still feeling incredibly uncomfortable about it.  And look, I don't blame her for that. I would bet that she's not alone in reacting like this.  And just assuming this is a Boeing problem. Truth is, we don't actually know that this is a Boeing problem.  Yes, it was a Boeing plane, but there is a very, very good chance that this is actually

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 13 June 2025, Israel has launched an attack on Iran, but international relations expert Al Gillespie doesn't think we should be freaking out about it quite yet. Former US transport accident investigator Mary Schiavo speaks to Heather about what might have led to that devastating Air India plane crash. We find out why the National Library wants to destroy half a million books. Plus, the Sports Huddle gets spicy when Heather asks Nicky Styris how many abs she has! 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 National Library wants to destroy half a million unwanted books from its collection.  The library says most of the titles have not been issues for the last 20 to 30 years, and attempts to donate books in the past only resulted in modest pick up. Mark Crookston is the Director of Content Services at the National Library.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have been attacked with fireworks, bottles and bricks as disorder erupted in Northern Ireland for the third night. The worst of the violence took place in Ballymena, but unrest also spread out to other towns in the surrounding areas. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the conflict kicked off after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a couple of dire years, a growing number of companies are listing on the relevant stock exchanges. An IPO is a key source of funding for companies, and investors appreciate this change in direction. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's all go at Fieldays 2025, and the Country's Jamie Mackay is taking it all in. Farmers are in a better mood as primary export figures soar - and business is booming. Jamie Mackay recaps the mood of day two of Fieldays. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Maxim Institute researcher Thomas Scrimgeour and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The UN has raised the alarm over declining fertility rates, with cost of living and job insecurity being cited as the primary factors behind these changes. How can we fix this? What changes could be made?  Kainga Ora is set to roll out the wool carpets in new state homes. How do we feel about this? Should Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley resign because he didn't tell us the truth earlier about why Adrian Orr quit? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The GDP for Q1 is set to drop next week - and experts are feeling confident about the state of the economy. Predictions from economists claim figures will pick up this time round. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann speculates further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Corrections union is sounding the alarm on prison capacity.  The Ministry of Justice projects the prison population will increase 36 percent by 2035 to more than 14,000 people. The Corrections Association of New Zealand says facilities are already at 95 percent capacity.  National President Floyd du Plessis says he predicts it will be completely full within 18 months.  He says some projects will slightly help - but more serious action needs to be taken now.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to new data from the United Nations, fertility rates are on the decline and families are getting smaller. The cost of living, job insecurity and housing costs are among the main factors preventing families from having as many kids as they would have wanted, new reports claim. Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley says women are also getting more educated and have more of a role in the workforce - and that's another factor. "Women are having children much later in life - and so as we see that first child, the age of the woman for the first child is creeping up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 12 June 2025, the future of Aukus has been thrown into doubt. Dr Michael Fullilove from the respected Lowy Institute in Australia tells Heather there's a lot at stake with almost $400 billion dollars worth of submarines on order. Kainga Ora boss Matt Crockett gets a grilling from Heather over the cost of the new wool carpets the state housing provider has committed to. Households throw away $1500 worth of food every year, and the staggering amount of money we could save if we didn't send so much to landfill. The UN says our fertility rates have reached crisis level, and Heather has a theory on why women don't have more kids. Plus, Heather lays out the case for why Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley should quit. 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.

I don't enjoy saying what I'm about to say because personally I quite like Neil Quigley, but I think that he needs to quit as the chair of the Reserve Bank - simply because I do not think that we can ever trust a single word that comes out of that man's mouth again as the chair. He has been busted telling not just one, but quite a lot of fibs about Adrian Orr's resignation. So for a start, on the day that Adrian Orr quit, you'll recall Neil Quigley was the one who held the press conference. At the time he said Adrian's resignation was a personal decision. That is clearly not true. Adrian, we now find out, packed a sad, and quit over funding.  Neil Quigley also said that there was nothing that the Government had said in the days before that that caused Adrian to quit. Not true. Adrian and Nicola, and actually Neil himself, had a meeting about the funding 9 days before the resignation. Neil Quigley was also asked whether there were any policy conduct or performance issues which are at the ce

There's skyrocketing water charges on the way for Wellingtonians in coming years.  An average Wellington household's water bill tops $2500 a year.   Indicative council figures suggest by 2033, that'll climb to $7,000 in a new billing system with water separate from other rates.  Councillor Tim Brown says it covers stormwater, sewerage, and drinking water. "It has approximately doubled in about the last five years - so it was closer to where Auckland's were five years ago. And it's quite hard to actually fully understand why our network is in such bad condition." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration is unlikely to scrap its defence pact with the UK and Australia. The Pentagon says it's looking over the deal, to ensure it meets the President's 'America First' agenda.   Australia expects to acquire nuclear-submarines, under the pact. Australia's Lowy Institute executive director, Michael Fullilove says it's all speculative at this stage. "It's not that unusual for new Governments to review deals that have been made by their predecessors - I note that all of the most senior people around President Trump are in favour of AUKUS." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kainga Ora's staying tight-lipped on how much it'll cost to carpet state homes in Kiwi wool. The Government's mandating using woollen fibres in new homes where appropriate from next month - to support the industry. The same will apply to new state buildings like schools and public service offices.  Kainga Ora chief executive Matt Crockett says he can't reveal the exact price because of of commercial sensitivities, but it's not expensive. "Basically, it's cost-neutral - but wool's a great product and we were really pleased with the pricing that came back." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.