Larry Williams Drive

I'd love to know what Labour are saying behind closed doors about the Green Party's alternative Budget released today. I mean, they're playing nice in public - but behind closed doors, they must be tearing their hair out because this is next level crazy. I mean, none of it is a surprise. It is full of exactly the kind of utopian, money grows on trees, when-I-grow-up-I-want-to-be-a-unicorn kind of stuff that we expect from the Greens. There is a wealth tax, there is an increased tax for companies, there are two new personal tax rates, there's a private jet tax, an inheritance tax, there's doubling the bright-line test to bring in more capital gains tax, and a doubling of the minerals tax. They're also gonna save some money by cutting planned prisoner beds, but they haven't quite explained how they're going to stop these bad guys actually committing the crimes that land them in prison in the first place. They're gonna spend the money on light rail in Auckland, an overnight train from Wellington to Auckland, tra

One former Finance Minister has voiced support for introducing a comprehensive vaccination program aimed towards older New Zealanders. A new report has revealed that a publicly funded vaccination program for the flu, shingles and RSV directed at over-65s would create an economic benefit of over $1 billion over four years. Steven Joyce says health systems all over the world are under pressure - and a new solution is needed. "What attracted me to this is - we know about the benefit of vaccinations to children, there's a huge increase in life expectancy that occurred as a result of that. When you look at it this way, it's just as much of a no-brainer."  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns and fears among some that the Regulatory Standards Bill sidelines te Tiriti o Waitangi.  The ACT Party bill aims to reduce regulation, claiming it'll create standards for 'good legislation'. The Waitangi Tribunal is meeting to discuss the legislation's failure to include the Treaty in those standards.    Ngati Toa CEO Helmut Modlik says ACT pushed it quickly through consultation before introducing it. "They've been a bit naughty beggars where they've truncated the time-frame - rushing it through so that it can quickly get to the phase where the Tribunal has no jurisdiction."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's War Memorial Museum still doesn't have a re-opening date after closing on Saturday when asbestos dust was found in multiple areas. The dust isn't air-borne - and has been found in the older part of the museum and Grand Foyer, where the emergency exits are located. Staff have been working remotely. Deputy mayor Desley Simpson says the museum's doing the right thing and putting safety first.  "They're working under a licenced asbestos assessor to actually get rid of it."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens' Chlöe Swarbrick says tax policy has been used before to create a better society. The Greens today launched their alternative Budget,  which includes a 2.5 percent tax on individual net wealth over $2 million. It would help pay for policies like free GP trips, free ECE and an Income Guarantee.  Swarbrick says after World War Two, higher taxes helped fund public housing and schools.  "That created a period by which even those who were having a hard time were able to participate in society and get the necessary social mobility so that they could live a good life in the future." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's Brooke van Velden is not apologising for using the c-word in the House today.  The Workplace Relations Minister said it after a question from Labour that referenced an opinion piece in The Post that used it in relation to a group of female ministers.  She delivered a strong rebuke - and criticised Labour for bringing it up in the House.  She says she stands by saying it. "I wanted to stand up for myself and stand up for all the female Cabinet ministers - that it's not okay that we have misogynistic abuse and it's not okay that it was brought into the Chamber." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has started his four-day trip to the Middle East by strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. The US president has met with the country's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They announced a $600 billion (USD) commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in America. The two also discussed efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme and end the war in Gaza. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says this trip has raised concerns - especially following the infamous plane gift Trump received from Qatar. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations Minister's defending saying the C-word in Parliament, while lashing out over an opinion piece opposing her pay equity policy. In the Sunday Star Times, Andrea Vance referred to senior Cabinet ministers as girl-bosses and a hype squad, and said the policy used 'girl math'. Quoting it in Parliament, Brooke van Velden herself used the extreme swear-word - saying she's standing up for MPs. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacked the whole saga - and explained how it backfired on the opposition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Australian will take the helm of Team New Zealand in their next defence of the America's Cup. Nathan Outteridge - part of the crew that retained the Auld Mug last year - will step up to skipper after Peter Burling walked away from the syndicate. Three-time Cup-winning helmsman and Olympic gold medallist Burling announced last month he was parting ways with the Kiwi syndicate. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Northland principal says the Government's inventing a bureaucracy in its crackdown on school truancy.  This year's Budget has $140 million for getting kids back in school - with a new case management system and better data monitoring. Horahora school principal Pat Newman says schools should be in charge of what happens with the funding.  "We don't need Big Brother sitting over us from Wellington, giving directives and telling us how to do the job. We're actually more skilled in it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested over a series of arson attacks after a fire at a house owned by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Police arrested the suspect in the early hours of Tuesday. He remains in custody. UK correspondent Enda Brady says reports reveal there were three similar fire-related incidents over a four days last week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carpet maker Bremworth has reversed its wool only policy - and will soon start making synthetic carpets again. The NZX-listed company, which stopped producing synthetic carpets in 2020 in favour of a wool-only policy, will restart production of synthetic carpets at its Auckland facility in the next financial year. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacked the market reactions to this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   Why has the CTU been excluded from the Budget lock-up? The green bins debate- do they need to go? Simeon Brown suggested Aucklanders could shave 2 percent off their rates bills if they went away. What do we make of this? The IRD is cracking down on chasing up people overseas who haven't paid back their student loans. Why have they taken so long to do this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has revealed the Government will will make its first withdrawal from the Super in 2028 - five years earlier than initially planned. In the first year, $32 million will be withdrawn - but from 2031, withdrawals are expected annually. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains why this is happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue has collected more than $207 million in repayments since July last year from student loan borrowers living overseas in the past 9 months. This is a 43 percent increase on the same period from the previous year. Currently, 71 percent of overseas student loan borrowers are in default - and together, they owe about $2.3 billion in loans, penalties and interest. Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker explains why the IRD is so invested in getting these repayments back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 13 May 2025, even more details have come to light about the kind of pornographic material that Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming allegedly had on his work device. NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage tells Heather the details. Auckland Council's Justine Haves defends the little food rubbish bins, after Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown claimed the council could shave 2% of our rates bill by getting rid of them. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls gets into a heated debate with Heather about who is allowed into the Budget lockup. Plus, Public Service Minister Judith Collins on why she is thinking about getting rid of DEI hiring policies for the public service.   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.

Why has it taken us so long to get serious about forcing people to pay back their student loans? Last month, IRD had someone arrested at the border. They have now paid back their loan. Isn't that amazing? They had been chased and chased and chased and chased - and you know that they had, because the IRD only arrest you at the border as an absolute last resort, but suddenly they were arrested at the border and despite presumably years of not paying back their loan - they pay it back. Isn't it incredible what a little bit of pressure can do? We've got more on this, by the way. The IRD has got in contact with more than 12,000 people who are living overseas who owe money on their student loans. 960 of them have paid back everything that was overdue, 1300 of them have started repayment plans, and 89 people have been warned they will also be arrested at the border if they don't start paying up. 11 of them, as a result of that warning, have started dealing with their debt - either by paying it back or

The Public Service Minister has confirmed she's committed to cutting public service diversity requirements. Minister Judith Collins is looking to bring a draft bill to Cabinet in July, to remove diversity requirements when hiring chief executives. It would also remove their responsibilities to promote diversity.  Collins says these requirements are holding the public service back - and she's looking to ensure the right people are hired for the job. "We're also hearing from public servants that they like to think that they are employed on merit, not based on little boxes that have been ticked." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland Councillor is apologising for voting to progress a joint-management approach for the Waitākere Ranges.  The proposal allows Te Kawerau a Maki to be represented on the joint iwi, Crown and Council board. Waitākere Ward Councillor Ken Turner says he doesn't support it - but voted for it so it would go to public consultation. He says he was under the false impression more diverse options would be included.  "They were in the executive summary, they were in the analysis and advice - and I did not realise they were not in the resolution until two months later." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Hollywood-backed football club is coming to play in Wellington. Welsh side Wrexham AFC's taking on Wellington Phoenix FC at Sky Stadium in July - one of three Australasian matches set to take place. It's owned by movie stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. WellingtonNZ's Heidi Morton says she expects the game will sell out. "Not only because this is going to be a fantastic, friendly football match, but also the entertainment draw with the Welcome to Wrexham show." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.