Larry Williams Drive

Fiji is the latest country expected to sign an agreement with China this afternoon. The Chinese Foreign Minister is on a marathon tour around the region, showing up NZ's and Australia's lack of attention. How concerned are you about these developments? While the Australian foreign minister flew out to Fiji immediately, our Foreign Minister isn't even speaking publicly. Would you expect more? The Government's response to supermarket duopoly is out – they're bringing in an industry regulator, a mandatory code of conduct, compulsory unit pricing and more transparent loyalty schemes. Plus, the big operators will have to open their wholesale arms up for competitors or face more regulation. Will this change the bill at the checkout do you think?  Should we shorten traditional working hours to school hours – while keeping pay the same? The issue of Kamahl Santamaria's resignation from Breakfast TV – just a month after he started. There are questions both about the alleged events that led to his resignation, and also

The US Justice Department is to review the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.  Authorities have so far struggled to give a clear timeline on how the events unfolded, to much public anger.  Officials have admitted police delayed entering the school for over 40 minutes as they did not believe it was still an active shooter situation.  Steven Monacelli, a journalist out of Texas, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi business consultant wants the classic 9 to 5 workday scrapped in favour of a 9 to 3 day to match with school times.  Ellen Nelson has launched a campaign called Work School Hours, saying ending work at 5 results in too much of a juggle to fit in the school pick up, or pay for after school care. Ellen Nelson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it's put supermarkets "on notice" warning them to become more competitive or face regulation.  It's introducing an industry regulator, a mandatory code of conduct and compulsory unit pricing. But any radical moves like breaking up the duopoly or making the big two sell-off stores have been shelved.  Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the response to the Government’s announcement around the Supermarket duopoly? The latest on the PM’s US trip.  There’s a bit of drama around the departure of Breakfast TV's host... What is the Government saying about this? Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opposition confirms new leadership. Thousands of paramedics go on strike over exhaustion. An Aussie company is sending millions of tubs of baby formula to the US after a rival recalls their product. 6PR Perth Live Presenter Oliver Peterson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked report finds that NZ Rugby may struggle to get the Silver Lake genie back in the bottle. Heartbreak for Scott Dixon at the Indy500. Sports commentator Phil Gifford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced major legislative changes designed to reduce the power of the supermarket duopoly. The changes include an industry regulator, a mandatory code of conduct and tighter regulations around wholesale access. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says he's putting the supermarket giants on notice. Sarah Balle, founder of Supie, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region.China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations.But Australia scrambled to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. Wong had been on the job just five days following an Australian election and had just arrived back Wednesday night from a meeting in Tokyo.In Fiji, Wong said it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia.“Australia will be a partner that doesn’t come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens," Wong said. “We are a partner that won’t erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions.”

Oil companies are making a killing at the moment.The price of Brent crude is back to levels not seen since early March.But there are a few developments this week that are starting to put pressure on the oil and gas companies.Business commentator Rod Oram joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former president of the Louvre museum has received preliminary charges for alleged antiquities trafficking during his tenure as head of the famous Paris museum.Police in the French capital charged Jean-Luc Martinez on Wednesday with “complicity in organized fraud” and money laundering, according to the Paris prosecutors’ office.The prosecutor’s office said that two of Martinez’ former colleagues in the Louvre's Egyptian antiquities department were also taken into custody this week but released without charges.The Paris prosecutor's office would not confirm French media reports saying that the three men were suspected of taking part in the trafficking of priceless heritage pieces.According to Le Canard Enchaine newspaper, investigators were looking into whether Martinez “turned a blind eye” to false certificates of provenance for five Egyptian antiquities.The newspaper said the pieces including a granite Tutankhamun stele or slab sold in 2016 when the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, a branch of the Paris museum, acqu

The reaction on our text machine took me by surprise earlier this week.It was during The Huddle and we were talking about the Australian election I think and the number of successful independent female candidates and one of our guests used the phrase ‘pale, stale, male’.And boy did the text machine go nuts.Fair enough. Because it is an unfair generalisation.What really interested me though was that I didn’t even really notice the phrase until the texts lit up because I'm inured to it.It’s just so common nowadays to beat up on men.Which brings me to an article in the Herald today.It’s a Listener interview with the author of a book called ‘What Do Men Want” and the author Nina Power argues that it’s time that we stop this gender war.She says we have to “acknowledge that its’ possible for men to be good” which she reckons “seems to be impossible in the discourse around toxic masculinity”.Because the pervasive thinking is that "all masculinity and therefore all men is bad and it doesn’t allow room for the possibl

It’s been three years since Julie Anne Genter’s secret letter over Wellington’s transport plan.Today, the NZ Herald was able to get their hands on it.Genter sent the letter in 2019 to then Transport Minister Phil Twyford when she was Associate Minister of Transport during pre-consultation on the Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) indicative package draft Cabinet paper.She wrote that she was concerned state highway components of LGWM did not align with the project's own goals or the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, such as mode shift and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.NZME Senior Multimedia Journalist Georgina Campbell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy Satterthwaite is one of five White Ferns going without a contract renewal for next year.The decision was controversial given Satterthwaite’s accomplishments in her long international career, with Amelia Kerr hitting out at NZC on social media.Matt Lodge has addressed his messy exit from the Warriors.Lodge said “there was no argument” between himself and club owner Mark Robinson.It was later revealed he had received a payout of around $700,000 upon leaving.Phil Gifford and Lavina Good joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week’s sports newsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five long time White Fern players have not have their contracts renewed including Lea Tahuhu, Frankie MacKay and of couse, Amy Satterthwaite.Satterthwaite was particularly controversial, with Frankie MacKay and Amelia Kerr hitting out at NZC.Instead of renewing their contracts, NZC opted to sign six new players.NZC General Manager of High Performance Bryan Stronach joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from Kiwibank, no other bank appears to have changed their mortgage rates.Kiwibank has changed theirs as a result of the OCR going up on Wednesday.But why haven’t the other banks followed suit?Independent economist Tony Alexander joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brutal stabbing on a quiet central Auckland walkway has shaken the Mount Albert community.Police have launched a manhunt for a 22-year-old after a man was found dead in Roy Clements Treeway on Tuesday night.The wanted man is known to frequent Sandringham and West Auckland, is considered dangerous and should not be approached.National list-MP based in Mount Albert Melissa Lee told Heather du Plessis-Allan this is an unusual tragedy for her electorate.“Quite shocking for the community actually, and I’ve been trying to gauge how they’re actually coping with it. Many people are concerned that it’s actually happened in their own backyard.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern is meeting US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in the US.It's only the third-such formal invitation a New Zealand Prime Minister has had from the White House in the past 20 years.Former Prime Minister Sir John Key visited the White House twice in his time.He told Heather du Plessis Allan it's great Ardern will get the opportunity.“They’re always important in terms of relationship building, but I’d be very surprised if they come out with any sort of immediate deliverable.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's spoken about gun reform during her trip to the United States.Jacinda Ardern has appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, made the Harvard commencement speech and has a meeting planned with President Joe Biden.Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls told Heather du Plessis Allan Ardern got a standing ovation when she made comments about New Zealand banning semi-automatic rifles and assault weapons.“I think she could’ve gone further on that but afterwards when we were talking about her, she said it wasn’t her place to make comments like that, it’s not her place to interfere with US policy.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accusations Texan law enforcement dropped the ball at the Uvalde shooting.There are reports the teen who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, entered the building unobstructed.US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says told Heather du Plessis-Allan delays in responses by police and border patrol agents are being widely discussed.He says parents were held back, which would have gone against their parental instincts, but may also have saved lives.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.