Larry Williams Drive

Labor may well get the 76 seats they need to govern alone. Barnaby Joyce is under pressure as leader of the Nationals, and there's talk the coalition may split. Rising petrol prices could reach record levels soon. Australia correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you used a public phone booth? Spark has just announced it's starting to remove 10 percent of its phone booths across Auckland and Wellington... And looking to futureproof the rest.  Tessa Tierney is Spark's product director, she joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A meeting between the Prime Minister and US President could be on the cards.  Ardern is in the United States meeting politicians and executives – and slated to give Harvard University's commencement speech ... and appear on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  Chief political reporter Jason Walls is with the delegation. He told Heather du Plessis Allan Ardern has signalled she's keen to discuss the CPTPP trade deal. “Prime Minister said ‘listen it might be a bit of a long shot but we’re still looking to get the US into that agreement.’” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders will be keeping masks on for a while yet.  The Government's announced the country will stay at the Orange level of the Traffic Light Setting, at least another month.  Gathering limits are long gone – but masks must still be worn in most indoor locations.  Our Covid Response Minister says new cold and flu strains will add to the workloads of already strained hospitals.  College of GPs medical director Bryan Betty told Heather du Plessis-Allan we're facing a complex few months ahead. “There’s very little spare capacity in the system at this point and that capacity could be used up very, very quickly if things were to worsen over winter.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbourhoods around the country are pushing against Kainga Ora developments. Forty-five-unit apartment blocks being developed in New Plymouth have neighbours worried.  Mayor, Neil Holdom, told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people are raising legitimate concerns – but more social housing is needed.  “We’ve got a waiting list with 770 families, that’s not 770 people that’s 770 families in Taranaki.” Meanwhile, a petition garnering thousands of signatures hopes to stop a development on Auckland's North Shore. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is telling anyone with monkeypox to isolate for 21 days. A nurse at a children’s hospital in England has been arrested after the death of a youngster she is alleged to have poisoned. Manchester City have launched an investigation after Aston Villa keeper Robin Olsen was assaulted during a pitch invasion. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian election didn't just bring a new Prime Minister and governing party. The rise of the Teal independents – meaning blue-green – has become the main storyline in Aussie's election. Former chief of staff to Kevin Rudd Simon Banks joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a war going on. A war between the streaming giants.  Netflix' recent results gave a bit of a warning shot for tougher times to come. The company is losing subscribers for the first time. Other big streaming companies have reported since and as everything in life gets more expensive people might just think twice about how many streaming services they really need. Jeremy Ward is Jarden's global equities analyst. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is jetting off to the states tonight ready to meet with the UN Secretary-General, US Senators and heads of big tech companies in California. But there's still a question mark over the really, really big meeting ... and that's with US President Joe Biden at the White House.  NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable about NIMBYism, but not in the case of the controversial Kainga Ora development being built in New Plymouth. I reckon locals have very good reason to oppose it and should continue to oppose it and should definitely insist that it's not in my backyard. This is a 45-unit public housing complex being built in the centre of the city made up of one- and two-bedroom units which are going to be run by Kainga Ora aka Housing NZ. Neighbours are divided on it. There are those who don’t want it. They’re worried about what it'll do to property prices in an area where some of them are selling for more than 1 million dollars.  And they’re worried about the security of their neighbouring businesses – like the local motorcycle centre owner said – ‘if they put the wrong people in there’. But then there are those who think it’ll be great for those without homes to have somewhere to live and who accuse the NIMBYs of being judgmental. I don’t think they are being judgemental. I think they’

New Zealand is deploying 30 more troops to Europe to help train Ukrainian fighters.  They won't actually go into Ukraine, instead, the Ukrainians and Kiwis will get together in the UK.  It comes after 50 defence personnel were deployed for two months in April and we sent $16m to buy military equipment for Ukraine.  Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian election threw up some interesting results. Do people love Labor? Or do they hate Scomo?  Just months after Christchurch Council agreed on plans for a new stadium, the cost has already blown out, and the delivery date set back. One councillor says the public's expectations for the project are too high. From tomorrow, Waka Kotahi will use security cameras to figure out who is using their phones and driving without a seatbelt.  Coke has come up with a new design for their bottles... where the lid stays attached to make it easier for recycling. Do you buy this or is it greenwashing? A UK mom is considering making her 8-year-old kid pay for his uniform because he constantly loses things and life is expensive. Ali Jones and Tim Wilson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independents have taken the Australian election by storm. Ex-Wallabies captain and independent candidate David Pocock is a prime example of that. Pocock looks like he's on the verge of unseating the liberal senator in ACT. If successful, he'll become the first ACT Senator from a minor party. David Pocock joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coca-Cola has unveiled a new design for its bottles – lids that are tethered to the bottle.  It's in an attempt to keep lids out of landfills, as otherwise, it's too easy for caps to get thrown in the general rubbish.  Coca-Cola says it will start rolling out these more environmentally friendly bottles in the UK in early 2024.  Founder of ethical marketing company GoodSense, Kath Dewar joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opening of Christchurch's city centre stadium has been pushed back again.  An update for city councillors shows it's been delayed to 2025 – and it's believed to be running about 50 million dollars over budget.  Councillor Sam MacDonald told Heather du Plessis Allan the project’s battling a few challenges. “The most important thing at the moment is we get the contracts signed next month, but what they’re telling me is that it’s constraints in the labour market which we’re hoping will relax over time and also getting literally materials through the ports.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is sending 30 defence force personnel to the UK – to help train Ukrainian soldiers. The L119 light gun is only used by a handful of countries – and New Zealand has specifically been asked for a training team. Defence Force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will we actually be doing to support Ukraine? The PM's off to the US, what's the plan, will she meet with Biden, and what can we expect from her Harvard address? How's the PM reacting to Albanese's election? Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australian Prime Minister. What's next for the coalition? Medical experts are calling for Aussies to mask up again despite the lack of a political mandate as winter approaches. Nathan Currie, Sunrise reporter, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues played a championship-intensity game against the Brumbies and won. Scott Dixon qualifies for the Indy 500 in pole position for the fifth time. Is he NZ's greatest ever driver? Sports commentator Phil Gifford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An engineering consultant says moving Auckland's port to Manukau is a terrible idea.  A feasibility study was included in the Budget last week – commissioned after a previous report rejected the idea. That report's author, and Auckland Mayoral candidate, Wayne Brown, told Heather du Plessis Allan it's ridiculous the idea's being considered again. “It’s a dangerous harbour, there are wildly shifting sandbars out off the front there, and it regularly claims fisherman.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.