Larry Williams Drive

Most parts of the economy are growing again. Stats NZ data out today shows GDP fell further in the June quarter than reported - at 1 percent, not 0.9. But GDP rose 1.1 percent in the September quarter - with growth in 14 of 16 industries. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what this means for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Government says it is entering new legal territory as it pledges to combat hate speech after Sunday's Bondi Beach terror attack.  Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured when two shooters opened fire at Jewish Hanukkah celebrations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced new powers will be given to target and crack down on people spreading hate speech and violence. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it feels like the Government is playing catch-up with this legislation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand is on the hunt for a new chief executive. Embattled Jennie Wyllie has resigned with immediate effect after nine years in the role, acknowledging 'challenges along the way'. Wyllie has been in the spotlight over the drawn-out Dame Noeline Taurua saga - where the Silver Ferns coach was temporarily suspended for high performance environment issues. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over who deploys helicopters to transport rescue teams as police apologise over a miscommunication.  A 13-year-old girl was left clinging to a cliff in Coromandel Peninsula's Hahei for hours last year - when police mistakenly thought she was dead. They refused to foot the bill for a chopper and a rescue crew made a nearly two-hour car journey. The Professional Firefighters Union's Martin Campbell says there needs to be clarity.  "In some cases, police are saying it's their call. And Fire and Emergency in the past have made that call. So there is a bit of confusion and misunderstanding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resident doctors in England have begun their strike action after rejecting the Government's latest pay offer. The British Medical Association (BMA), and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, met in a final bid to reach an agreement, but none was reached. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reserve Bank Governor Dr Anna Breman is pushing traders in financial markets to focus on the bank’s November 26 Monetary Policy Statement. This has prompted investors to speculate that interest rates will remain low throughout 2026. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Jevon McSkimming was today sentenced to 9 months home detention. Did we expect more? The Government has scrapped the road cone hotline with six moths left to go. Do we think this is a total waste of money? Trump's chief of staff did a Vanity Fair interview, but now says her quotes were taken completely out of context. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the most followed AI stocks have taken a hit over the last few days, prompting concerns about the sector's future. Both Oracle and Broadcom were down 10 percent, prompting concern from investors. Milford Asset Management expert Remy Morgan explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 17 December 2025, disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been sentenced to home detention for possession of objectionable material including child sex abuse and bestiality images. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka won't say how much more users of the Abel Tasman Great Walk might have to pay as a result of a historic settlement with Maori. Was the road cone tipline a total waste of money? It's being shut down after just six months. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Jevon McSkimming's sentence is too light and whether we should believe Vanity Fair or Donald Trump's chief of staff who says she was misquoted. 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 know you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but can we just take a minute to look at the good economic news coming out? Government books aside, tomorrow's GDP read will show we bounced back with a spring in Q3 - close to 1 percent growth, they reckon. What's more, that shocking read for Q2 should be revised down because it wasn't actually as bad as the topline number we were given to begin with. Today, consumer confidence is on the rebound. This is according to the Westpac McDermott Miller survey. It's up 5.6 points - to its highest level this year. Still slightly below 100 - which means more are still glass-half empty than full, but it's going in the right direction. As are Seek job ads and as are most of the numbers that move first when a recovery is underway.  Now, I say all of this completely aware that we've been here before and fired a blank. We've had many a false dawn and false start. But barring any major cock-ups, this recovery feels like its real and happening. The missing ingr

There's hopes a new move by the Reserve Bank will bring about positive changes for New Zealand's banking sector. It is changing the mix of capital banks are required to hold, aiming to reduce funding costs.  It is also targeting closing the gap between bigger and smaller banks - making the market more competitive. The Co-Operative Bank chief executive Mark Wilkshire says this will encourage competition and remove certain constraints impacting the banking sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions remain about the significance of the Bondi's terrorists' recent trip to the Philippines.  Sunday's terror attack at a Jewish celebration claimed 15 lives - and 20 people are still in hospital.  The father and son gunmen spent much of November in a Philippines region known as a 'hotbed of Islamic extremism'. But Australian National University criminologist Dr Clarke Jones says it's an interesting link.  "When there was a connection to the recent terrorist attack in Bondi, I was, well, surprised there was some sort of link to the Philippines - but not surprised that terrorism is probably still active."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's calling the Government road cone complaints hotline a complete waste of public money. It's wrapping up six months early - after site visits showed 86 percent complied with the rules on cone quantities.  Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere says the pilot cost $150,000 by September, after beginning in June. He says there were and more effective solutions to the issue. "They should have picked up the phone, had a conversation with councils, worked with them to get the information that they needed - it certainly wouldn't have cost them more than $150,000." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Abel Tasman walk has been returned to its original owners - but the Conservation Minister's unsure how it'll affect the iconic tramp's price-tag. The Government's today signed an agreement to restore thousands of hectares of land in the upper South Island to descendants of original owners, Te Tauihu. It includes a 25-year agreement to continue the Great Walk. Minister Tama Potaka says walk management remains with the Department of Conservation, public access guaranteed.   "There are arrangements in place around a number of issues - those arrangements remain confidential." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jevon McSkimming received several discounts at sentencing in Wellington District Court today.  The disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner has been given nine months home detention for possessing questionable material.   Judge Tim Black began with a starting point of three years prison - with reductions for a guilty plea, remorse, and significant rehabilitation efforts. NZ Herald reporter Melissa Nightingale says that brought the potential sentence down to 18 months in prison. "Once a sentence drops to about two years prison or below, it's then available to potentially be switched over to home detention - which he's chosen to do in this case."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's delivered his final parliamentary speech for the year, handing out plenty of praise for his Government and jibes for the Opposition. Parliament's wrapping up for the year, with party leaders getting in their last say. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the final speeches. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The son of Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele has been charged with murdering his parents - found dead in LA on Sunday. Reiner is famed for directing the iconic When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men, among others. 32-year-old Nick Reiner is charged with two counts of first degree murder, with a special circumstance of multiple murders.  US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says these charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole, or the death penalty. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIFA has introduced a new ticketing tier for next year's World Cup, following an uproar over the prices to attend games. The sport's governing body has announced a new 'supporter entry tier' in response to criticism of the highest prices in World Cup history that were labelled extortionate. Prices have increased several-fold from Qatar, with the cheapest ticket for most pool games costing several hundred New Zealand dollars with the most expensive in the thousands. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's encouraging numbers on retail crime in New Zealand, according to new reports. Data from retail crime intelligence company Auror shows year on year for the 10 months to October, weapon use fell 12 percent and violent events dropped 6 percent. In Australia, the same kinds of incidents are trending upwards. Auror spokesperson Nick McDonnell says there's a reason such crime is dropping here. "Retailers have really led the way in leaning into it, and then the police on the other side of the system have also leaned into this earlier than other markets - and are really collaborating together through the platform." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, Chief of defence staff Sir Richard Knighton says war with Russia is at risk. Knighton says Russia is a growing threat to the UK, and the 'sons and daughters of Britain' will need to be prepared. UK correspondent Enda Brady says people across Europe are starting to get worried. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.