Larry Williams Drive

There's claims Portuguese millipedes are wreaking havoc in Wellington's Owhiro Bay - and should be declared a pest.  The many-legged creatures have been invading homes in the small suburb at night.    City Councillor Nureddin Abdurahman says he's heard the problem is spreading beyond Owhiro Bay to wider Wellington.  He says if someone visits the nearby Red Rocks, millipedes could be taken into ecologically protected areas like Zealandia.  "If it's impossible to eradicate then it needs to be contained." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled a new Northern Expressway that goes over Northland's Brynderwyn Hills rather than around. It's released its planned route for Northern Expressway taking it from Warkworth east of State Highway one, over the hills to the east of the current route,  then through Whangarei. This comes instead of a proposed bypass to the west. Northland Regional Council Transport Committee Chair Joe Carr has voiced support for this move.  "People aren't secure in making decisions to do with holidaying and investing in Northland, so it's pretty serious stuff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's another twist in the puzzling disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge - missing from Southland since 2015. During a Coronial hearing in Christchurch today, a witness retracted his earlier claim his cousin had told him he'd helped the pair flee. The father and stepson's car was found in wild sea near the Catlins - below an 88-metre cliff, with no bodies.  Herald reporter Anna Leask says the witness made a complete turnaround  after being shown his police statement. "He read through his statement and said - that's what the police have, in this document, that I didn't say it and I never said that and he didn't say this to me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for Northlanders - as the Government settles on the Northern Expressway option. The new route will run from Warkworth, and be built over the Brynderwyn Hills east of the current route, then through Whangārei.  The road across the Brynderwyns has suffered continued closures, since 2023's severe weather.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's tipped to be a costly project - but a new road is needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has confirmed he's standing 'strongly' behind Pete Hegseth after reports claim he leaked more military plans. Hegseth's wife, lawyer and brother were included on a Signal group chat, where he shared detailed plans about an operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This comes one month after a journalist released messages between top US officials after accidentally being added to their group chat. US correspondent Mitch McCann says Donald Trump has 'dug his heels in' and he's reluctant to let go of Hegseth as US Secretary of Defence.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relief for Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad after putting pen to paper with the NRL club. The 29-year-old will stay at Mt Smart until the end of the 2027 campaign. Nicoll-Klokstad says he couldn't imagine being anywhere else, following reports linking him to a move to UK's Super League. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland Councillor says a new management plan for the Waitākere Ranges is about consultation - not decision-making.  The council wants to set up a regional committee, jointly controlled by Council-and-Government, alongside tangata whenua.  Richard Hills says it's a sounding board, and final decisions would still be made by the council and local boards. He says it would make an already existing process easier - putting all the usual groups consulted in one place.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First of all, can I just say to all Catholics, condolences, obviously, over the passing of the Pope.  It's a big moment for the Catholic Church.  I enjoyed this Pope.  He seemed a little bit more fun than his predecessors, didn't he? He loved football, he loved saying things that got him in trouble, carried his own luggage.  Seems like a normal guy, right? A normal guy who became the Pope.  But if I'm honest with myself, setting that all to one side, I think he was ultimately quite disappointing as the Pope, wasn't he?  Because he said a lot of stuff about wanting to be more liberal and be more inclusive, but he actually didn't do anything, did he?  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church regards gay people.  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church treats divorced people.  He didn't change anything about the fact that women are completely excluded from serving as clergy in the Catholic Church.  Now obviously, a

King Charles has spoken out after the death of Pope Francis - and says he touched the lives of so many through his care for both people and the planet.  The monarch says he sends his most heartfelt condolences to the Church Francis served with such resolve, and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning his loss.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says the pair got to have one last meeting before the Pope passed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 22 April 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Sir David Moxon, tells Heather what the late Pope was like. NZ First leader Winston Peters explains why we need a legal definition of what makes a woman (and a man). Ukraine's ambassador to NZ reacts to news that NZ has committed to training Ukrainian troops until the end of 2026 - but what could end the war before then? A neuroscientist explains what you should do if your phone notifications give you anxiety. Plus, on the Huddle, two Catholics on the Pope's death, why Josie reckons she's a cafe catholic and why Tim wants to baptise Heather's kids. 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.

Chicken exports are returning to normal after a bird flu outbreak in Otago last year. Last December, New Zealand experienced its first confirmed case of avian influenza on an Otago egg farm and thousands of chickens were culled. While the outbreak was contained to the Hillgrove farm, measures were taken to prevent further spread, including surveillance and temporary suspension of chicken exports. The Country's Rowena Duncum explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88. He sparked plenty of discussion and debate in his time in the role - what did we think of him? MetService copped some backlash over their use of the Emergency Management alerts over the weekend. Should we be able to expect better forecasts and weather warnings from our forecasters? New research shows over half of Kiwis are feeling overwhelmed by phone notifications. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been some positive trade news. Stats NZ data shows goods exports rose 19 percent to $7.6 billion in March - compared to the same time a year ago. Milk powder, butter and cheese rose 35 percent to $2.3 billion. Goods imports rose 12 percent to $6.6 billion. Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon unpacked the factors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's less than a month to go until the 2025 Budget is unveiled - and the Finance Minister has been clear about the goals she aims to tackle. Nicola Willis says New Zealand has been in a significant deficit since 2019, and she's determined to get back into surplus by 2027/2028. She explained getting the country back into surplus will help to pay down debt. "We're borrowing every day right now to keep our hospitals, schools and police going - but we can't do that forever as a country, we need to get the books back in balance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has revealed another significant impact our phones are having on our mental health. New research reveals half of all New Zealanders over 18 now feel overrun by notifications on their phones - particularly those in the Gen Z cohort.  Neuroscientist Kathryn Berkett says our devices are training us to be on alert for anything - and those anxious feelings aren't good for our overall well-being. "We don want to know that people care about us and like us- so that's all we're asking people. Not to walk away from it, but to control it, to have a bit more control rather than it controlling you." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says the term 'woman' needs protection - by a bill legally defining it as an adult human biological female.  MP Jenny Marcroft's proposed Members bill would legislate gender to biological sex, essentially meaning transgender people could not legally align with their identities. The New Zealand First leader says having to write the law this way is unusual, but it has become 'critical'.  "And the fact of the matter is - that this is a case where women, who are deserving protection and support in many other occasions, are simply not getting it in our law." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More questions have been raised after a twist in the disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge in 2015. The pair disappeared after John Beckenridge broke a court order and took his 11-year-old stepson from his Invercargill school.  A coronal hearing into the case adjourned in 2023 - but has resumed with five new witnesses.  A friend allegedly told people they'd assisted them, and that they're alive. Senior NZ Herald crime reporter, Anna Leask, says police were made aware of the story mid-last year.  "I think that's one of the big questions that will be asked - why did it come out when it did?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The openness and compassion of Pope Francis may carry over to the next pontiff to take up his title.  The Head of the Catholic Church died last night after a stroke - he was 88.  A period of mourning has begun.  Worshippers will flock to the Vatican in the coming days to farewell Pope Francis, including the Cardinals who will elect his successor.  Former representative to the Holy See, Sir David Moxon, says the Pope chose most of the Cardinals - so he'd expect them to value a warm and loving Church. "I think that it would be highly likely that the next Pope would be someone who would respect the pontificate of Pope Francis." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First wants the definition of a woman and a man etched into the law. Britain's Supreme Court has ruled the legal definition should relate to biological sex - excluding transgender women. Leader Winston Peters says the Bill would define a woman as an adult human biological female, and a man as an adult human biological male.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's unclear if a Bill of this nature will come to pass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women and younger voters have turned their backs on the opposition party ahead of the upcoming Australian election, according to new polls. The Coalition is trailing Labor 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis - and those figures get wider when broken down by demographic. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Coalition is also losing ground in key battleground areas - including Western Sydney and Western Melbourne. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.