Larry Williams Drive

A Napier accommodation provider is doubling down on turning away Americans - saying it's a protest against the Trump administration 'betraying' Ukraine. Bluff Hill Lighthouse B&B has cancelled every US booking since February. Owner Mario Schmidt is blaming the President - and his adviser, billionaire Elon Musk. He says he made the decision after Donald Trump's meeting with Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last month. "I literally threw up - I've never thrown up. My blood was boiling." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Party leader David Seymour says Te Pāti Māori should be penalised for shunning their Privileges Committee hearing. Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi instead called a press conference and confirmed they intended to hold their own hearing at Parliament on May 7. Seymour says he's not trying to influence the Committee - but he's suggested they recommend cutting the MPs’ pay. "What you just heard is a group of people who will continue to undermine the institution of Parliament, and therefore those New Zealanders - the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders from every background who are grateful to live in one of the most successful Parliamentary democracies in human history - they're thumbing their noses at all of us." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand has apologised and says it's a top priority to make sure a case of mistaken identity never happens again. Police mistook an 11-year-old for a distressed woman in her 20s - and she was restrained and given drugs meant for adults at a Waikato mental health facility. Chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan says it's clear human error was a factor - and they need to learn from this. "What's clear here is - our staff were doing everything in good faith, working hard, there's no doubt some human error occurred here. But we just need to learn from that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori says it isn't sorry its MPs did a Haka in the house last year - and would do it again in a heartbeat.  An MP has been called before the powerful Privileges Committee today, but the Party's snubbing the summons. Te Pāti Māori says the Committee turned down its request to change the date so its counsel could be present.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Justice Department is seeking the death penalty if Luigi Mangione is found guilty. Mangione is on federal charges for allegedly shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson dead in Manhattan last December. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Mangione has pleaded not guilty so far - but discussions are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pakistan will require a hero in Hamilton to avoid a crushing defeat in the second one-dayer against the Black Caps. The tourists, chasing 293 to win, are in dire straits at 65 for five in the 21st over. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prescription weight-loss drug embraced by celebrities now has the green light in New Zealand.   Wegovy injections limit appetite and reduce food cravings.   It will cost patients between $600 to $1,000 a month - and will be used to target obesity here as soon as possible. GP and physician at the Weightless Clinic Dr Lara Courtenay says this medication is meant to help Kiwis who are seriously struggling with obesity.  "All the studies were actually done with a very low-calorie diet, alongside increase in exercise - so whoever goes on it should be doing all of those things."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is expecting to be hit by new US tariffs on Wednesday, with Downing Street indicating a new deal with the US won't be reached in time.  President Donald Trump is set to unveil a raft of tariffs tomorrow - and it's widely believed they'll hit all countries, not just those with the biggest trade imbalances with the US. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Prime Minister Starmer doesn't plan to introduce reciprocal tariffs just yet, and they're waiting for the full announcement.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's move to reject an Auckland America's Cup bid has been met with divided responses. The play for 2027 series can't go ahead without an extra $75 million dollars - and the Government didn't feel like it could be justified. Infometrics Chief Economist Brad Olsen weighs in. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Reserve Bank has moved to hold the OCR steady at 4.1 percent following this afternoon's meeting. Interest rates started to drop in February - but the Central Bank opted to hold off on going further for the time being. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains what inspired the market to make this move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 1 April 2025, Auckland is officially out of the running to host the next America's Cup. Hospitality's Steve Armitage is disappointed the Government has ruled out contributing financially. English teachers react to the new recommended reading list for secondary school students - and should Shakespeare be mandatory reading? Stories that sound like April fools jokes but aren't - $85,000 spent to find three skinks and two local boards in Christchurch at odds over a speedbump means they will only build the bump on one side of the road.   Plus, what have the Greens done now? 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Minister Stuart Nash and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  A lively debate is taking place in Christchurch, with local boards at odds over installing speed bumps. There will be a bump on one side of the road but not the other. Is this everything that is wrong with local councils? It's been revealed the Government will not fund the America's Cup returning to Auckland - meaning someone else will have to host in 2027. Is this the right move? The Ministry of Education has released the list of recommended reading for secondary students. Shakespeare will be mandatory. Do we think it's a good call? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke van Velden says she's fixing unclear laws - on landowner liability for accidents on their land.   The Workplace Relations Minister's announced changes to health and safety laws to make it clear the responsibility lies organisers of activities.  The landowners of Whakaari/White Island were prosecuted after the 2019 eruption. EMA workplace safety manager Paul Jarvie says many companies were hit hard during the eruption fallout - and there's been industry concerns ever since. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proposed pedestrian crossing's become a bit of a joke - after differing views were shared from two Christchurch community boards. The southbound lane of Deans Avenue, near Al Noor Mosque, has been approved for speed bumps - but not the lane heading north. It's the boundary between the Riccarton and Central City wards. Central City Councillor Jake McLellan's side will have a bump. He says it will look kooky - but it's better than nothing. "When you add a crossing but you don't actually do anything to make people safe while they're crossing, it can become quite dangerous." Riccarton Councillor Tyla Harrison-Hunt agrees it's better than the status quo. "At the end of the day, it's actually a massive, massive win for the Deans Ave residents - and a massive win for the everyday users of Hagley Park." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over a three-week mission to locate and re-home three native skinks, at a cost of $85,000. It involved clearing vegetation along State Highway Three near New Plymouth - and releasing one copper skink and two gold striped geckos at Everett Park Scenic Reserve. Auckland University conservation biologist James Russell says the money spent was a fraction of the total costs of work on the highway. He explained New Zealand is extremely bio-diverse - and gold-striped geckos are incredibly rare.  "It's just another species where we don't know what's happening - and if we don't look, it'll just disappear and be another blot on our record." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boss of Hospitality NZ says the Government's reasons for not backing an Auckland America's Cup bid don't stack up. Auckland Unlimited has confirmed the denial of funding has put it out of the running for 2027. The Prime Minister and Finance Minister say there are better uses for the money. Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Steve Armitage says the money wouldn't go into a black hole.  "Actually, the Government can help to bolster Government coffers through GST revenue - from the teams being here and established over a period of time. There's investment in technology, boat building, componentry, even before you get to the visitations." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson is relieved a quick resolution has been found to the Ineos stand-off. The petrochemical giant and NZR have reached a settlement after the latter launched legal action following Ineos terminating the deal three years early. Robinson says he's satisfied with this decision. "We're pleased there's been a settlement reached, we've been pretty open from when we started communicating this, we believed we had a pretty strong position."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori won't attend a Privileges Committee hearing tomorrow - despite being summoned over a haka performed by MPs during reading of the Treaty Principles Bill last year. Te Pati Māori says its request for a joint Party hearing was turned down, and its legal counsel isn't available. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper wonders why the party isn't playing by the rules. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has kept its Official Cash Rate unchanged - as it waits for the impact of tariffs expected from Donald Trump tomorrow. New Zealand's Central Bank is still expected to drop our Official Cash Rate 25-basis points next week. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the uncertainty around the economy has created complications for the Central Bank. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's chances of hosting the 38th America's Cup defence in 2027 have sailed over the horizon without Government investment. Team New Zealand has responded with a statement, saying the syndicate completely understands as 'times are tough'. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.