Larry Williams Drive

Significant progress is being made on New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement with India. India's Trade Minister is in the country - discussing our trade relationship over the next few days with Minister Todd McClay and the Prime Minister. India has announced it's looking towards an early conclusion of the FTA. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained that these discussions were why Luxon missed Question Time - prompting criticism from Labour.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zohran Mamdani's scored victory for the Democrats - making history as New York City's youngest mayor in a century.  The 34-year-old candidate focused his winning campaign on working-class issues.  It's a crushing defeat for the second-placed Trump-backed Independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says it's not gone down well with the US president. "He's blaming some of the losses, not just in New York but in governing races in Virginia and New Jersey on the Government shutdown that's been going on for well over 30 days - and also on a lack of presence of himself." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are keeping an eye on February's T20 World Cup heading into a five-match series against the West Indies, starting at Eden Park tonight. It will be New Zealand's last T20 series before their World Cup squad is announced. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report has claimed the BBC doctored footage of Donald Trump to appear like he was calling his supporters to 'fight' ahead of the January 6 riot. Editors for Panorama, the BBC’s longest-running investigative series, reportedly altered a Trump speech that took place in 2021 - prompting investigations and accusations of bias. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacked the findings further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's putting more than a million dollars into rolling out farming tech designed to cut down emissions. A $1.2 million dollar investment's been announced through AgriZero. It's developing a device for cows that spreads their urine across a farm as fertiliser- reducing the need for artificial application. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained the project further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Green MP Gareth Hughes and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  A museum in Christchurch has raised some concerns over an attempt to depict 'both sides' of World War II. How do we feel about this? Erica Stanford has moved to take Treaty obligations off school boards, prompting outrage from teachers. Should we be outraged at this development? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 4 November 2025, the president of the NZ School Board Association is unhappy that the education minister is taking treaty obligations off boards. Melbourne Cup correspondent Donna Demaio reports live from Flemington with the latest from the big race day. Prue Daly, boss of the NZ International Convention Centre, in studio with Heather to celebrate finally getting the keys to the convention centre.... 6 years late! Is the Government looking to introduce a ban on homeless people in city centres? Barry Soper has the latest from Parliament. Plus, the Huddle debates whether a Canterbury museum is wrong to show "both sides" of World War II. 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.

Okay, I've got a question for you - and this is a genuine question, it's not a rhetorical question. Do you agree with the teachers' unions that it's an outrage that Erica Stanford is taking the Treaty obligation out of the Education Act, or do you agree with Erica Stanford that it needs to come out? Now, I'm asking you this question because I honestly cannot understand why the teachers' unions are causing uproar over this, because it seems to me to be a clear case that this should come out. It hasn't helped lift Māori achievement in the five years it's been in the legislation. In fact, going by just one metric, which is the proportion of Māori students leaving school with no NCEA qualification at all, it's getting worse. It was 24 percent in 2021, it's now nearly 28 percent at last count. So if this thing isn't helping, then it shouldn't be there - because all it is then is just virtue signalling and distracting schools when they should be, as the minister said, laser-focused on educating kids. So this is whe

A meeting between Te Pāti Māori and the National Iwi Chairs Forum has resulted in two key outcomes. The hui was called after infighting, which saw the Te Tai Tonga electorate call for Party President John Tamihere's resignation. He responded by suggesting MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris should resign. Forum spokesperson Bayden Barber says the party's leadership has agreed to a truce on the attacks on social media.  "The second one was an agreement to meet at a marae in Wellington to work through the issues." Barber says they now need to meet with Kapa-Kingi and Ferris to get the same type of agreement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The long-delayed International Convention Centre in Auckland has formally been handed over to SkyCity - several years behind schedule. The works began in 2015, and the project was impacted by additional delays, extra costings and the infamous 2019 fire. NZ International Convention Centre general manager Prue Daly says it's a relief to finally get the keys to the building to get it ready for next February. "We've been patiently waiting, but actually now we're just super-focused on getting that building ready for February - and make sure that when we're open, we're delivering really well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns from some that a Canterbury museum's displayed World War II Nazi artefacts without context.  Geraldine’s Military Museum showcases tanks and machinery of war, alongside a Nazi flag and mannequins wearing the uniforms of Hitler’s elite bodyguard. It welcomes visitors to partake in an Nazi re-enactment - to display 'both sides' the war.  Holocaust Centre Chair Deb Hart says without much context, it's harmful to uninformed people.  "You do have an obligation to help people understand what it is that they are looking at. Otherwise, you risk glorifying something that was terrible in our history." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year's winning Bird of the Year, the kārearea, is attacking Wellington walkers on a popular bush walk. The native falcons are nesting along Haywards Track - and swooping on unwary hikers. Hutt City Council is asking people to hold off walking between Whites Line East and Mawson Street, for now.  Forest and Bird's Ali Meade says people who see the birds should leave as quickly as possible. "They might scour the back of your head a little bit - they just don't want you there and you could hurt them if they come into contact with you as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's largest water safety group expects a big impact from losing about 20 percent of its annual funding. ACC's ending its long-standing partnership with Water Safety New Zealand after this summer, saying it hasn't seen a measurable reduction in drowning injury claims. Water Safety New Zealand will lose about a million dollars a year in ACC funding. Acting CEO Gavin Walker says ACC's challenge is understandable, but they need the funding to help do life-saving work. "We're worried that all of that is put at risk without some continuation of funding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unions have voiced disappointment over the Education Minister's plan to remove school board Treaty requirements. Erica Stanford intends to scrap a clause under which boards must reflect local tikanga in the curriculum - and teach te reo Māori. The PPTA labelled it another step in the Government's apparent drive to take the country back 50 years NZ School Boards Association President, Meredith Kennett, says putting it in legislation ensures school policies consider the history of children and their whanau. "Allow us to connect with local iwi - and making sure that this school is fit for purpose for our children, because our children need to belong. And if they don't feel like they do, then they won't achieve."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori has confirmed they're not  ruling out triggering two separate byelections by expelling controversial MPs. Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer aren’t backing down from the party’s actions as it defers to Te Pāti Māori’s national council. This comes as deliberations to oust Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris continue to take place. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped what we know so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, the Reserve Bank has opted to leave interest rates on hold at 3.6 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Experts had largely predicted this, given the current state of inflation data in Australia. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's unlikely Australians will see a rate cut until 2026. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRL will look into Tonga's handling of Eliesa Katoa's head injury assessment. The news comes after he suffered seizure activity and brain bleeding following three knocks in the space of 90 minutes in the build-up and during the league test defeat to New Zealand on Sunday. He underwent surgery in Auckland yesterday. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recapped what we know so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smokin' Romans and Torranzino are preparing to carry the hopes for New Zealand-trained horses set as the 24 hopefuls for today's Melbourne Cup are saddled up at Flemington. It's a decline of two Kiwi runners from last year's race, while six set out for the 3200 metre journey in 2022. Melbourne Cup correspondent Donna Demaio says there's concerns about rain impacting the race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Witnesses have described horrifying scenes of train passengers trampling over each other to escape a mass stabbing in the UK. A 32-year British national is now the only suspect for the stabbing on a London-bound train, which police are not treating as a terror attack.  One of the 11 victims - described by police as a hero who tried to intervene - remains in a critical condition. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the driver also moved quickly to get the train the in the right lane so police could intervene.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac New Zealand recently saw a significant profit boost - and it's prompted discussion. The Australia-owned bank's reporting a 13 percent jump in net profit after tax of of $1.20 billion in the year to September.  Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained the market reactions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.