Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 24 May 2024, Dunedin is reeling after a 16 year old was stabbed to death at a bus stop and a 13 year old charged with his murder. Mayor Jules Radich tells Heather security guards don't have enough powers to intervene.    Where'd the $51 million go? Wellington Water's CEO Tonya Haskell says a "spreadsheet error" led to a massive budget hole.  The Sports Huddle debates the big question that divides the rugby community.  Plus step aside boomers and Gen-X...The Catholic church has named a Millennial as the first saint in 100 years.  Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s law to ban smoking for future generations could be dropped, after it was not fast-tracked in the lead up to the general election.  The UK Labour Party has promised to bring in the ban if it wins the election in July.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Heather du Plessis Allan “Both sides of the house are debating what they’ll managed to get done, before Parliament is put on hold for the general election.”  Grey said “The problem is, every time a country gets near doing, something thwarts it.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is encircling Taiwan in a series of military drills - just days after Taiwan’s president was elected.   The Chinese military says the onslaught of planes, war ships and coast guard vessels is punishment for what it's calling "separatist actions".  Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather du Plessis Allan “This is a step up from what we've seen before.”  Lewis said “For the first time ever, China has simulated a full-scale invasion of Taiwan.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week.  National’s New Plymouth MP David MacLeod has been stood down from his select committee roles after failing to declare 19 candidate donations.  MacLeod received $168,335 in donations in 2022 when he first became the National Party candidate.  Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “To forget that is incredible. It’s pretty obvious from the electoral law.”  Soper said “Chris Luxon wasted no time at all in removing him, as he has done in the past.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Minister Shane Jones has come under pressure from Labour and the Greens, over the Government's new plans for mining.  Jones wants to bolster gold and coal mining across the country, and to have a renewed focus on value-add refining.  Greenpeace NZ executive director Russell Norman told Heather du Plessis Allan “He’s getting rid of all environmental constraints expect one - mining in national parks – because that got him in trouble last time.”  Norman says “There’ll be no environmental balance to his desire to put a commercial incinerator next to your house.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Blacks captains Richie McCaw and Ian Kirkpatrick have urged New Zealand Rugby to change their governance structure.  Meanwhile, nearly 1.59 million New Zealanders have watched NRL matches on Sky Sport and free to air on Sky Open, a lift of 14 per cent from last season.  Sports Journalist Lavina Good told Heather du Plessis Allan “The Warriors don’t even have to win for people to love it.”  Good says “The game [rugby union] is in disarray. Everyone is watching rugby league.”  Sports Journalist Jim Kayes says “Rugby is still rating as well as it has done in the past – there's no reason why you can’t watch both codes.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richie McCaw is urging New Zealand Rugby to change the way they’re governed based on an independent review - emphasising long-term benefits over short-term interests.  McCaw has warned that New Zealand rugby may lose the unity that has historically strengthened the sport from grassroots, to the professional level.  Former All Blacks Captain Ian Kirkpatrick told Heather du Plessis Allan “It’s time for change. Changing administration will change the game too, we hope.”  Kirkpatrick said “The game has become so gladiatorial, that mothers don’t want their kids to play.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Defence Force evacuation flight from Noumea has landed in Auckland today - with 49 passengers.  It's our third group to return - and it's understood 160 New Zealanders are still in the French Territory.  Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told Heather du Plessis Allan “We think we might have it resolved by the end of the week.”  Peters said “We’ve got security issues, that those on the ground will better understand.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 13-year-old's been charged with murder over the death of another teen in Dunedin yesterday.   Police say they've been aware for some time of anti-social behaviour at the city's Great King Street bus hub - and they arrived at the scene within one minute of the 16-year-old being stabbed.  Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich told Heather du Plessis Allan “We instigated private security patrols, which have provided more eyes on the street.”  Radich said that although private security don't have police powers, they are the eyes on the street, who provide pastoral care and give people someone to talk to.  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is removing almost a third of rubbish bins around the region to save $9.5 million over the next eight financial years.    Meanwhile, the council spent almost $147,000 dollars on a sculpture at the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway in November last year, two months before removing a bin.  Auckland Council chair of revenue expenditure Maurice Williamson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This has got to be the greatest example of a policy that was good in theory, and has been a disaster in practice.”  Williamson said “About 30 percent of the bins weren’t being used, or had an alternative bin nearby.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's budget appears to have increased under Winston Peters - despite its savings announcement today.   Peters has revealed MFAT is cutting 60-million-dollars over four years. That's less than one percent, well below the Government's 6.5 percent savings target for most ministries.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “Winston is the saviour of MFAT.”  Soper said “You may remember in 2018, he had a big argument with Grant Robertson about how MFAT needed more money - and he got just under a billion dollars.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A top competition lawyer says the anti-trust lawsuit against music promoter Live Nation, is long overdue.   The US Department of Justice is suing the Ticketmaster parent company - alleging it's holding a monopoly - as it's putting on the concerts, selling the tickets and owning the venues.  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This isn’t a surprise... I think they’ll be out a chunk of change somehow.”  Mitchinson said “Ticketmaster will usually add another $30-$70 in fees and taxes.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors’ prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been stood down for breaching team standards.  Fonua-Blake left the dressing room before the team address and song – and as a result will miss Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.   Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Heather du Plessis Allan “In terms of breaching protocol, it’s very low-end. In fact, I can’t think of anything lower.”  Pine said “But, it’s a line in the sand that has been agreed on by all the players.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water has made a $51 million dollar mistake, and is asking councils for a funding top-up.  Wellington Water board members fronted up at a committee meeting this morning, saying there will be an independent investigation.  Wellington Water CEO Tonya Haskell told Heather du Plessis Allan “In the process of coming up with those numbers, we missed our corporate overhead, which is six percent.”  Haskell said “Part of that is due to the systems, we’re waiting for new systems and water reforms.”  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man alive. There is a family in Dunedin doing it tough today. I mean, these guys sent their 16-year-old boy to school yesterday and he didn't come home. He was stabbed at a notoriously dangerous bus stop by a 13-year-old. What the hell, by the way, as a 13-year-old doing with a knife?  Now, that stabbing at the bus stop will have sent chills through parents up and down this country. Because the thing is: that is not just a Dunedin problem, it’s an every part of the country problem. And we have for a few years now been warning that kids are beating each other up at bus stops at places like Rotorua, Tauranga, New Lynn, Pukekohe, Albany, Dunedin....And now the worst thing that could possibly happen has happened.   The warnings have clearly just not been taken seriously enough by authorities. Even that bus stop, by the way, there have been assaults on kids by kids since at least 2021, right? That's the last three years and we've been aware of that. And there have been calls for police to do something about it. An

Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4. Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copper prices have surged this year by 25 percent, according to new data. Copper has a broad level of demand, with plenty of industries relying on this commodity. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains how copper can be a barometer of the human economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwifruit producer Zespri’s profit has dropped 27 per cent but growers have been paid record prices for their output. Zespri reported a net profit after tax of $173.3 million for the 2023-24 financial year - down from $238.7m the year prior. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week ahead of this year's Budget day, the Finance Minister has warned Kiwis shouldn't expect too much. Minister Nicola Willis warned the Government faces a significant structural deficit of $6 billion a year - and changes will need to be made to fix that. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains how this warning could potentially impact the upcoming budget reveal.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister turned up to readjust expectations ahead of this year's Budget. Addressing the Employers and Manufacturers Association in Auckland this afternoon, Nicola Willis has warned the Government faces a structural deficit. That's the fact Government spending has way exceeded tax revenue, and it's projected to continue without significant spending reforms. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains how this update will impact next week's Budget reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.