Larry Williams Drive

New research has confirmed there is an unmistakeable link between vaping and irreversible lung disease. The study published by Johns Hopkins University tracked 250,000 people - and discovered that e-cigarette use is associated with increased new diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in New Zealand. Respiratory physician and Asthma and Respiratory Foundation adviser, Dr Stuart Jones, says it's been known that vaping comes with harmful side effects - but this study provides more concrete evidence about the damage.  "The respiratory community aren't surprised at all that this result has come out - I guess it's what we've been warning about all along with the vaping that's been going on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are revealing parts of their alternative budget - set to cost about $8 billion over four years. It's calling for a Ministry of Green Works, a Government agency supporting sustainable infrastructure - including regional forestry. The party estimates it would create 40,000 jobs. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick won't release more details - but says their costed independent budget will be released in about two weeks. "In about a fortnight's time, we'll be unveiling our Green budget, which will show people how we can have an economy that reduces the cost of living, improves quality of life and also reduces climate-changing emissions." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's leader says now is a good time for the Government to think about its organisation. David Seymour wants a limit on Cabinet Minister numbers - with none outside Cabinet, and only one associate minister for finance. Seymour says there are currently ministers with seven different departments, and departments answering to 19 ministers.  He says he doesn't expect change pre-election - but believes Chris Luxon gets his viewpoint. "Chris cut his teeth as a manager - and I'm sure that it's something that, without speaking for him, he will intuitively get." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The senior doctor's union says a pay increase offered in negotiations with Health New Zealand doesn't seem to have changed.  About 5,000 senior doctors have been striking today, after eight months of failed bargaining.  Health Minister Simeon Brown is urging members to resume talks. Salaried Medical Specialists Association executive director, Sarah Dalton, says what's being offered won't attract or retain talent.  "What would be really helpful would be for the Minister to think about what funds they make available to Te Whatu Ora to help them sort this out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister is making it clear he's not criticising doctors over pay - but their union.  More than $5,000 senior doctors in the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists union have been striking today.  Simeon Brown's urging them back to the negotiating table, saying thousands of surgeries - such as hip operations and knee replacements - have had to be delayed.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan questions if the doctors will accept a new offer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The estranged husband of killer-accused, Erin Patterson, has taken the stand today - revealing a series of texts. Patterson's charged with murdering his parents and aunt with a beef wellington lunch laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the ex-husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the lunch - but declined.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Indian Panthers are out of the NBL basketball competition for the foreseeable future. The NBL commission has suspended the overseas first-year entrant amid claims of payment issues and poor treatment of players. The club will be indefinitely suspended until certain conditions laid out by the Commission are met. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission has confirmed it will not be formally putting the cost of flying under the microscope. Rangitata MP James Meager has suggested the Government could help keep fares competitive by supporting regional airlines. It's been revealed some flights to Pacific Island nations are cheaper than certain trips within New Zealand. Commission Chair Dr John Small says flying short routes with low demand is very expensive. "There's no law against charging high prices - that's the reality of things in New Zealand. If it's a monopoly - on a monopoly route - it's potentially able to be regulated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meghan Markle has copped some backlash after new reports claim she was using her HRH title when she wasn't supposed to. Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex say that when she used the title HRH on a card, it was sent with a personal gift and not for any public purpose. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the controversy further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US earnings season has started up again - and new reports indicate Donald Trump's tariffs are starting to bite. Companies across the US have reported shipping from China has taken a significant dip - the biggest reported since the Covid-19 pandemic. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is continuing to buy foreign currency assets to give it more firepower, should it need to intervene in the market during a crisis. The central bank sold a whopping $259 million of New Zealand dollars in March to buy assets, such as government bonds, linked to other currencies. The sale marked the second-largest foreign exchange-related transaction (or series of transactions) the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) has engaged in during a month in just over a decade.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar 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!  Wellington City Council has voted in favour of supporting lowering the voting age to 16 in local body elections. This is never going to go anywhere - is it? The Government's latest curriculum update involves teaching students about financial literacy. Do we think schools should be teaching this - or should it be taught at home?  What do we make of Nicola's almost zero-budget one day on? Do we agree with Nicola's plan - or should she be going further? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to talk a little bit more about Nicola Willis’ tight budget - I haven’t changed my position from yesterday and I'm impressed at how little she’s giving herself to play with. But the truth is, it doesn’t go far enough - at all. Because understand this - that $1.3 billion that she’s given herself in her operating allowance is new spending. As in, take last year’s budget and now increase it by $1.3 billion. For context, Nicola Willis spent more money last year than Grant Robertson ever did in any of his budgets - and now she’s adding another $1.3 billion to it. Now I understand that this is conventional politics - budgets increase every year.   The last time it didn't, the last time we had a zero budget where we didn’t add any more money was Bill English's 2011 budget - because we’d had the earthquake. But what that tells you is it’s possible to not increase the spending - and I would argue that is exactly what we should be doing at the moment. Because we are in big financial trouble as a countr

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 April 2025, KiwiRail's announced the Aratere will be retired this year, leaving us with just two Interislander ferries for the next four years.   Education Minister Erica Stanford explains why she's going to introduce financial literacy courses to schools. Heather explains why she's impressed with Nicola Willis' budget announcement - but thinks we need to cut whole ministries to free up more money. Plus, the Huddle debates Wellington City Council voting in favour of allowing 16-year olds to vote in local body elections. 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.

The future has been secured for Whakapapa skifield after DoC today granted a 10-year concession. Whakapapa Holdings has signed up to run the Whakapapa skifield on the iconic North Island mountain for the next decade. It's taken multiple Government bail-outs and years of talks to reach this point - since Ruapehu Alpine Lifts folded in 2022.  Whakapapa Holdings Chief Executive Dave Mazey says an environment with less time pressure will help with developing a long-term future for the skifield.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis is looking to further rein in Government spending in next month's Budget - but one expert has warned it won't go far enough. The Finance Minister is slashing the operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion. She's targeting a return to surplus in 2029. NZ Initiative economist Eric Crampton says Government spending has been running too high for years - and cuts need to be made to save the situation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief a man who killed a second time after being found insane after a killing more than two decades ago shouldn't have been released.  RNZ has revealed the man was recently found not guilty of murder by way of insanity again - as he'd believed the victim was possessed.  He'd been a special patient under the Mental Health Act, but was freed more than 10 years ago.  The Government's Chief Victims Advisor, Ruth Money, say she'd like a Royal Commission inquiry of how people are assessed to ensure they won't reoffend.  "People are going on to kill - and it is not good enough. It's too dangerous for the community and there needs to be a level of inquiry that has teeth." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor says he's not holding his breath on 16-year-olds getting the vote.  The Council has reaffirmed its support for letting them participate in local body elections, with only four councillors opposed.  Councillor Ben McNulty says it was a quick vote - and he was in favour. But he says this Government's likely to ignore the call.  "Whether LGNZ listens to Wellington, whether the Government then listens to LGNZ - who knows? It's purely symbolic." McNulty says symbolism is sometimes important in politics.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Government curriculum refresh is aiming to give school kids more grasp of money management. The Education Minister's making financial literacy a compulsory topic for years one to ten. The Government is teaming up with financial organisations, banks, and charities for lessons on investment and taxes. Erica Stanford says kids will learn a small dose each year, increasing in complexity as they get older - in order to build up financial skills over their time at school. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interislander is reducing its Cook Strait ferry fleet from three to two. The Aratere will retire when demolition begins on its decaying dock - late this year or early the next - to add infrastructure for new ships. Two new ferries are due in 2029. KiwiRail's Adele Wilson says it would've cost about $120 million to have an interim dock. "The idea of the temporary wharf is one of those things that is not possible if we want to bring this project in on budget and on time and at a level that's affordable."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.