Larry Williams Drive

Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern is now living across the Tasman.  A spokesperson for Ardern says the family has been travelling for a few years now and for the moment they’re basing themselves out of Australia.  The statement says they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows weeks of speculation about Ardern house-hunting in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka by 61 runs in their super eight cricket match at the men's T20 World Cup in Colombo. The Black Caps recovered from 84 for six to post 168 for seven - the tournament co-hosts replied with 107 for eight. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's car-clamping system - targeting people owing fines and victim reparations - appears to be paying off.  A law change since July allows cars to be clamped until people not paying court fines cough up.  More than $700,000 has been paid since. Independent Victims Advocate, Claire Buckley, says about 600 people paid on the spot.  "I think it's always been known that most of the time, these offenders have been able to pay and were electing not to, because for quite a long time, it was not enforced."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of France’s Louvre museum has resigned after a months-long string of scandals, including the brazen daylight theft of priceless jewels. Laurence des Cars submitted her resignation letter to President Emmanuel Macron, after facing months of pressure since the October robbery of US$100 million ($167.5m) of French crown jewels.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says some believe this resignation was a long time coming, as confidence in the Louvre has plummeted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 25 February, 2026, we talk to Transport Minister Chris Bishop about plans to let E-scooters use cycle lanes and allow children under-12 to ride their bikes on the footpath. Why the Reserve Bank wants banks to set up more ATMs and branches. Real Estate agent Rawdon Christie tells us why so many newly built townhouses aren't selling. And on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour and Jack Tame assess Donald Trump's record one hour 47-minute State of the Union speech. 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.

New Zealand won't be going cashless anytime soon under the Reserve Bank's new proposal.  It wants to set up 1300 multi-bank hubs to provide full services free of charge. The plan ensures those in urban areas can walk to get cash - and the drive for those living rurally is reasonable.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI firm Anthropic has made upgrades to their Claude model and it's sparked concerns about what this could mean for markets and jobs. Claude specialises in coding and technology, and IBM's stock recently took a hit - with experts citing the model as a reason. Milford Asset Management expert Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election. This move has prompted plenty of debate about the pros and cons. What do we think of this?  The Government announced proposals to let under-13s bike on footpaths and allow e-scooters in cycle lanes. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says a 'common sense' approach is needed on this issue. Do we think this is fair? US President Donald Trump delivered a record-breaking State of the Union speech discussing crime, immigration and the economy. What did we make of the address? Why aren't people buying townhouses? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government announced today it wants to shake up the road rules a little - allowing kids under the age of 12 to ride their bikes on the footpath, and letting e-scooters use cycleways. Now, it might surprise you to learn that both of those things are against the rules. Kids aren’t allowed on footpaths on their bikes unless the wheel diameter is roughly the length of a ruler or smaller, and e-scooters are not allowed in cycle lanes. And it probably does surprise you, because we do these things all the time, don’t we? We’ve got a cycleway near our house and scooters are on that thing constantly - because frankly, it’s the safest place for a scooter to be. I took my boy and his six and nine-year-old cousins for a bike ride to the skate park at the beach during summer. They rode on the footpath. Two of those bikes were definitely against the rules - far too big. So you could probably characterise Chris Bishop’s proposed changes as simply updating the law to reflect what people are already doing. But I have a qu

A positive financial result has gentailer Meridian thinking about infrastructure upgrades.  It recorded a half year profit after tax of $227 million. Chief executive Mike Roan says they're considering increasing capacity at the Pukaki dam in the Mackenzie basin.  He says it's still early days though.  "The question that I've asked the team is - is it economic to do it? Does it actually make financial sense to expand the amount of hydro storage that we've got?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over whether adding politicians in Australia would improve law-making or just add bureaucracy. Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election.  Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says electorates are so large that it's becoming harder for single MPs to represent them.  But he says Australia also has layers of Government to consider.  "We're already pretty over-governed over here, it's not just the federal Parliament you've got to think about, it's state Parliament." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A real estate agent says there isn't enough demand to meet the supply of townhouses. Newly constructed townhouses are sitting on the market so long that they no longer qualify as 'new builds'.  It means first-home buyers can't get low-deposit loans on the property.  Real Estate Agent Rawdon Christie says developers are shifting close to what the market wants.  "So rather than putting 15 in there, let's put 8 standalone two-story houses, which are still three-bedrooms."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A record-breaking State of the Union speech from Donald Trump. His 107 minute address today is the longest since records began in 1964. The US president also spoke directly to invited guests - including the US Olympic champion men's hockey team, victims of crime by illegal immigrants, and a 100-year-old World War II veteran.  Reuters reporter Bo Erickson says Trump covered a wide-range of topics.  "He really, kind of, treaded on older ground, though - focusing on a lot of domestic issues, like the economy and what his administration's trying to address."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister says rule change proposals hope to return some common sense lost in New Zealand, long ago. The Government's today announced proposals to let under-13s bike on footpaths and allow e-scooters in cycle lanes. Consultation's open for the next month via the Transport Agency. Chris Bishop says it could mean some details may change and he's happy to take feedback on the policies into account. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington. The US President's spoke for nearly two hours - with topics ranging from the cost of living, defence and immigration.  It's the longest State of the Union speech since at least 1964. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the highlights of the address.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has broken records with his recent State of the Union speech. The President's address lasted more than an hour and 40 minutes, making it the longest speech before a joint session of Congress since 1964.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump claimed the US has been 'turned around' and praised his handling of the economy and defence.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Robertson will get an opportunity to coach against the Springboks this year. The former All Blacks mentor will guide the Barbarians for matches against the world champions and Wales. The fixture against South Africa is on June 20 at Port Elizabeth. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's emphasising the importance of cash services being free-of-charge. It's proposed requiring the banking sector to provide accessible full-cash services across the country - at $104 million a year. The plan ensures those in urban areas can walk to get cash, and the drive for those living rurally is reasonable.  Money and Cash Director Ian Woolford says people don't expect to pay to deposit or withdraw cash.  "Communities need easier access to cash, closer to home...what we've learned, partly, from those cash trials is that this is what communities need."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Mandelson has been released on bail hours after his earlier arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Met Police. This follows an investigation that took place earlier in the month over allegations that, while he was serving as a Government minister, Mandelson passed on sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Ukrainian ambassador says the end of the war still seems a long time away.  Today marks four years since the start of the large scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Our Government's pledged another $8 million dollars in support, taking out total contribution to about $150 million. Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko says Vladimir Putin has already seen 1.2 million of his soldiers killed, wounded or captured.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.