Larry Williams Drive

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland will finish up in the role when his current contract concludes at the end of the 2025 season.  Holland confirmed his decision to All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson after the second Bledisloe Cup test match earlier this month. The players were informed today on the first day of camp ahead of tomorrow's departure for the Northern Tour.  Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained what we know so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has confirmed Ozempic reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 20 percent - even in patients who weren't severely overweight to start with.  The study, which was led by University College London and published in The Lancet, found that weight loss accounted for only one third of this reduction. Auckland University molecular medicine professor Peter Shepherd says this is proof other factors are behind the slowdown of heart disease. "We know a few of them, we know a bit about how it effects heart tissue growth, we know a bit about the positive effects it has on the deposition of the lipids, but there's still a long way to go to fully understand its effects."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Andrew’s future at Royal Lodge is in doubt after the collapse of a business deal that was intended to provide a financial lifeline. The deal would have allowed the prince to abide by the terms of his lease, by paying for the hugely expensive upkeep of the vast Windsor estate. Without it, he could face eviction from the 30-room property, on which he has not paid rent for 20 years. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the backlash further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is more than halving the number of entities that need to make climate-related disclosures. It has proposed to only require listed issuers with market capitalisations of more than $1 billion to make disclosures. Currently, the threshold is $60 million. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the changes further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More financial experts have raised concerns about an AI bubble - and what it could mean for the wider economy. Multiple AI companies are attracting the attention of investors, and this interest is projected to grow, but concerns have been raised. Milford Asset Management Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union 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! Is the Government right to get rid of its climate disclosure rules for listed companies? Did anybody actually care? Tomorrow's mega-strike is set to begin. Polls indicate over half of Kiwis support the strike. What do we make of all this?  What's your secret to cooking a good sausage? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche airs his frustrations ahead of tomorrow's mega strike. Immunisation expert Dr Nikki Turner explains why there are concerns that measles is spreading undetected - and it's not just kids at risk. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace explains when you should consider switching from gas to electricity given gas prices are going through the roof. Air New Zealand's new boss took over this week, and already he's hitting turbulence. The Huddle gets into a heated argument over climate-related disclosure rules. Plus, Heather reveals her controversial method of cooking sausages. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's yet another, frankly welcome, sign that the world's climate overhype may be over, or at least correcting. The latest is that the Government has announced it's now easing the rules on how much compulsory climate reporting the big listed companies have to do. Now, I don't blame you if you feel at this minute like your eyes are about to glaze over, but do not let that happen. Because this is actually much more important than it sounds. This goes back to the bad old days of Jacinda and Grant in 2021, when the Ardern administration brought in rules forcing large, publicly listed companies to report to shareholders the impact that climate change may have on them. It was world-leading, it was ground-breaking - and it was incredibly expensive. Turner's, the car company, reckons that their first report, which only runs to seven pages, cost them $1 million to produce. Some companies have told the relevant minister, Scott Simpson, that it cost them $2 million to produce their reports. And the ones who are gettin

Air New Zealand says it now expects to make a first-half loss of about $30 million to $55 million, before tax. It's just provided a trading update to the NZX. The national carrier says it expected a two to three percent uplift in revenue across domestic and US-bound bookings. However, this hasn't materialised and isn't evidenced in future bookings. NZ Shareholders Association head Oliver Mander says the engine issues and ongoing economic downturn are the main factors behind these changes.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fund manager says Kiwis deserve to know the impact of their investments.  The Government plans to scrap annual climate disclosures for KiwiSaver funds, and raise the reporting threshold for listed companies from $60 million dollars to $1 billion. Mindful Money founder Barry Coates says these rule changes will reduce transparency.  "We're stepping backwards on what should be information that should be disclosed by companies. If you're investing in a KiwiSaver fund, do you want to know whether that KiwiSaver fund is bearing a high climate risk? I would want to know."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi company is investing in drone boats able to be used for defence - on home shores and beyond. Robotics company Syos has acquired Tauranga business Bay Dynamics.  Syos CEO Sam Vye says it will strengthen their position in the surveillance and defence market.  He adds underwater sabotage is a growing concern overseas.  "Particularly in the EU around potential sabotage by hostile vessels or vessels from certain countries that might accidentally drag anchor or intentionally disrupt seafloor infrastructure."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing worries measles is spreading undetected through the country. Three new cases in Manawatu and Nelson were announced yesterday, bringing the total of current infections to four. Health New Zealand hasn't been able to confirm how each became infected - and is warning of a potential national outbreak. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director, Dr Nikki Turner, says four cases might not sound scary - but measles is highly infectious. "If we don't know it came from travel - then where did it come from? We do not want this bug spreading through our communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner is suggesting unions are striking to get it out of their system.  At least 100,000 workers in health, education and public service are walking off the job tomorrow, protesting pay and conditions.  Some picketing's moving indoors and some rallies cancelled in Wellington and Canterbury - with extreme bad weather looming.   Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says despite him being willing, unions haven't stepped up to negotiate for the most of the past two weeks.  "It just seems to me, based on my engagement with the unions, that they had to do this for reasons that escape me. I think it was all avoidable, it's extremely regrettable."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner's again sounding a negative note over New Zealand's major health and education strike tomorrow. About 100,000 union members across various sectors will stop work across the day - expressing frustration over pay and working conditions. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is expected to be the biggest strike in New Zealand's history since the 1970s, with many unions expected to take part.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plans for a second Trump-Putin meeting to discuss the Ukraine war have been shelved, days after they were proposed. Last week, Trump said he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest to discuss the war in Ukraine. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says reports claim Russia isn't happy with some proposed terms. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High Performance Sport NZ has quietly footed the bill for an independent review and player wellbeing support in the Silver Ferns' camp amid the ongoing Dame Noeline Taurua saga. While Netball NZ grapples with the fallout following Taurua's suspension, HPSNZ has offered funding, strategic advice, and resourcing behind the scenes. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With gas prices going up all over the country, there's debate over whether households should make the switch to electricity.  Contact Energy recently revealed it's hiking gas prices by an average of 17 percent, as the decline in production has hit faster and harder than expected. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace says making the switch is a big decision - and could set households back by thousands of dollars. "The costs are anything between five and a half to $10,000 dollars to change over, so that capital investment is a considerable investment, and that payback takes some time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Andrew has not paid rent on his Royal Lodge for more than two decades, according to a new release by The Crown Estate. The release of this tenancy agreement follows calls for transparency on Andrew's residence, on top of another week of scandal. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's suspected William wants to get ahead of a bigger mess before he becomes King. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour unveiled their first major policy a year out from the 2026 election, and it's prompted mixed reactions from experts. Some have lambasted the proposed New Zealand Future Fund for being light on details, and Labour has yet to confirm which public assets will be managed by this fund. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie offered his take on the proposed idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day, and more!  Should the Public Service Commission be putting out ads about Thursdays' mega strike, in a bid to attack the unions? Should we be concerned here?  Sports Minister Mark Mitchell is weighing in on the Netball New Zealand v Dame Noeline Taurua saga, after Labour's Willie Jackson asked the Government to freeze Netball NZ's funding. What do we make of all this? A coroner is concerned no member of the public stepped in to help a girl that drowned in a public fountain in a busy park. What happened here? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.