Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 June 2025, NZ Rugby's boss is calling it quits, and ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith has got the scoresheet on his performance. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says yet more action is coming on to crack down on the supermarket competition. Heather reckons schools need to take a long hard look at themselves, after the Auditor General pointed out excessive spending including overseas holidays, Pilates classes and lavish parties. The mystery author behind the unauthorised Jacinda biography reveals themselves. Plus, the Huddle was on fire, talking inappropriate school spending and is it normal to be an adult and never have tried KFC? 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.

Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Willis says the Michael Forbes situation is awful - but police have to have discretion.  The Prime Minister's acting deputy press secretary quit last week, over allegations he took compromising recordings of sex workers and photos of women he didn't know. Nicola Willis says these issues need to be managed well and she says the Department of Internal Affairs looking into the matter is positive.  She says police do have discretion, which is important.  "So it's never appropriate for ministers to dive in and say - we think you should prosecute this person or that person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anyone who thinks that Mark Robinson resigning from New Zealand Rugby today is a shock clearly doesn't follow rugby's dramas with their brain fully turned on. This was not a shock at all. Anyone could see this coming. This was coming the minute that David Kirk took over as the chair. Now, I don't want to be seen to be saying that David Kirk forced him out. It is, in fact, quite possible that Mark Robinson just read the room and left of his own accord first - but it was always going to happen, wasn't it? Because David Kirk is the new broom, and the new broom generally gets rid of things that aren't working. And unfortunately for Mark Robinson, that wasn't working. Now, I've got no hard feelings towards the guy. He seemed like a really easy bloke, but he has not had the most glorious 10 years, has he? When he brought in the Silver Lake deal, which has yet to bear any fruit despite all of the drama it caused - and boy, did it cause drama. He totally stuffed up the Fozzy situation when he trie

The author of an alternative Jacinda Ardern biography says his book's different - because he's spoken to people across politics.  The Former Prime Minister's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, hit shelves last week.  David Cohen says he's writing his own book, backed by alternative news website, the Centrist. He expects it'll be out later this year. He says he's proud of the fact it brings in a multitude of voices - which he claims other Ardern biographies haven't done. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Robinson's underlined dealing with Covid-19 as the biggest challenge of his tenure as New Zealand Rugby chief executive. Robinson will stand down at the end of the year, to move to Australia with family. He was only three weeks into the job in 2020 when the pandemic hit - shutting down the game. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says this is the right move. "There's clearly a movement for change in New Zealand Rugby, Mark Robinson's got some family in Australia - so I think, ultimately, it's probably a good time for everyone to clear the decks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland home values have fallen, down nine percent on CVs released in 2021. New capital values are being released tomorrow for 630,000 properties, with inner-city suburbs taking a bigger hit. Central Auckland areas - including Mount Eden and Maungakiekie - fell about 13 percent. Auckland Council Group CFO, Ross Tucker, says a few reasons have driven the slump. "We've seen apartments fall 12 percent, converted flats fall 12 percent as well - also, we're seeing some of the areas where there's a lot of development potential have bigger than average falls." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party is speaking out over Israel stopping a civilian yacht carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted a yacht carrying prominent activists - including Greta Thunberg. Its Foreign Ministry says they're safe, and the cargo will be taken to Gaza.  But Green Party co-Leader Marama Davidson says that's not good enough. "We want to see Israel stop shooting at innocent people lining up for a kai and we're calling on the Government to sanction Israel for its violent occupation of Palestine." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s Willie Jackson says Te Pāti Māori needs to compromise and focus on the main issues facing New Zealanders, like health and housing, following three MPs’ sanctioning in Parliament this week. He’s also responded to comments from Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, the partner of Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi and the daughter of the party’s president, John Tamihere. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's clear Labour's not impressed with Te Pāti Māori's more 'theatrical' antics as of late. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government is set to make some tax changes - and it's got people worried about the future. Labor is looking to double the levy for to 30 percent for people with at least $3 million in their superannuation, with experts claiming at least 80,000 Australians will be impacted. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says there's plenty of vocal opposition to these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Fox has brandished the three wood - as Chris Wood and the All Whites have cheered him on to a Canadian Open victory. The New Zealand golfer's won the title in front of a group of All Whites players, who are in Toronto between games in an international friendly tournament. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers has launched a petition calling for KiwiSaver rules to be changed to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. The petition’s launch has been timed to coincide with Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. Federated Farmers' banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says farming is very capital intensive and young farmers need a boost in the name of fairness. "Kiwi farmers are really struggling to put that money aside and a lot of them are actually deciding not to put money into KiwiSaver and basically scrimp and save because they know they need all the money they can get to actually get their foot in the door." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.