Larry Williams Drive

Ahead of Budget 2026, there's a promise of $131 million for education - which includes taking on students falling behind. The pre-Budget funding announcement pledges to give schools more maths and literacy resources and 36 extra maths intervention teachers.  Education Minister Erica Stanford says educators and principals have already voiced their excitement about the additional funding to her.  "My focus is on parents and children and raising achievement - and parents can feel confident that no matter where their child is at school, it doesn't matter, it's the same curriculum."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Finance Minister once forced to bail out BNZ says buying it back would be lunacy.  New Zealand First is proposed re-nationalising the bank, buying it back from Australia's NAB and merging it with Kiwibank. Leader Winston Peters says bank profits should remain in New Zealand.  But Ruth Richardson says the idea has no weight.  "It makes New Zealand look like a tinpot country, where populist politicians feel free to nationalise private businesses. Why stop at banks? I mean, supermarkets like Woolworths are foreign-owned."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $131 million education boost aiming to lift maths results and teachers' confidence teaching it has been revealed. Funding's going to new workbooks and digital tools, as well as a Year Two literacy check and Year Five maths check. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Erica Stanford's responding to the needs of teachers, and ideally they'll support these changes.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first round of polls following the Australian federal Budget are out, and the Albanese-led Government is taking a hit. New data shows Opposition leader Angus Taylor is in front as the preferred Prime Minister, and One Nation's support is on the up.  Australian correspondent says this Budget has sparked backlash among business owners and older Australians - but it's too early to say what this means for a future election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have dismissed a Brisbane NRL hoodoo with a convincing 42-12 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round. It's the first time the Warriors have beaten the Broncos at Brisbane since 2018. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survivors' advocate is welcoming the Government's proposal to scrap 'good character' sentencing considerations for sexual offenders. National's Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith has announced the party will prohibit the practice at sentencing.  He says the assessments only serve the interests of offenders and rarely the victims.  Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money says it's a problem for victims to sit in court and hear these 'good character' assessments.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need to talk about what Chris Hipkins has said about immigration. First of all, Labour can frankly shut up accusing the Nats of anti-migrant rhetoric because this is a party that hasn’t got a leg to stand on when it comes to migration.  This is the party - and some of the very same people are still there - that campaigned on reducing immigration by up to 30,000 people in 2017, produced a list of Chinese-sounding names two years earlier and then shut down immigration completely, only to do the opposite by opening it up too much during and after COVID. So, on immigration - glass houses etc. But having said that, what National is proposing to do on immigration should worry businesses up and down this country that rely on migrants. And I’m looking at you - the aged-care sector wanting to bring in Filipino workers to look after our elderly; and I’m looking at you, Health New Zealand, needing to employ Indian nurses; and I’m looking at you, the construction sector, needing to bring in general labourers. Bec

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 15 May, 2026, we talk to a constitutional lawyer about the Waitangi Tribunal finding the Government breached treaty principles with education changes.  B416 co-chair Cecilia Robinson tells us why she's still confident there'll be a social media ban on under-16s before the election.  We hear from the controversial Dunedin City Councillor who's become known as "tapeface".  And on the Sports Huddle, Lavina Good and Elliott Smith discuss whether Luke Metcalf's made a good move in going to the Dragons.  Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix Women's team might be the sports story of the year.  They've gone from a wooden spoon team to making the grand final tomorrow, making them the first kiwi team to ever make the A League final.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maori Queen Te Arikini Kuini Nga Wai Hono I Te Po is in London visiting Buckingham Palace, where she met with King Charles and Prince William.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A social media ban on children under the age of 16 is on hold. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the Government is undertaking a wider programme of work on it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waitangi Tribunal is calling on the Government to immediately stop its planned changes to the education law.  The Government has confirmed today that it is planning to remove the Treaty Principles within the Education and Training Act.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dunedin City Councillor Benedict Ong has made quite the name or himself in the seven months since he was elected to council.  He has put tape on his face, read aloud from Franz Kafka's The Trial, leaked confidential documents, and he's now facing his second code of conduct complaint.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So I once heard someone say the best stories you could hope to read in the newspapers are always found in the sports sections—and I was reminded of that by the incredible story of the women’s Phoenix football team. These ladies are going to play in the grand final of their A-League competition, which is remarkable when you consider that, in two of the past five years, they’ve finished as the wooden spoon team. But why they’ve made the grand final is what makes the story truly incredible. It’s their coach, Bev Priestman. She seems to be the person who has turned the team around. Two years ago—remember this—she was their evil nemesis. She was the head coach of the Canadian football team during the 2024 Olympics and she was caught spying on our team, the New Zealand women’s side, using a drone. And in that New Zealand team were many players who are in this Phoenix squad. That drone spying turned into an international scandal and the coach lost her job. She needed a new one so she moved to New Zealand, where her

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has taken a swing at the Government's $70 million major events fund - while seemingly revealing its spend on bringing Robbie Williams here this year. Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner says he can't confirm that figure and Wayne Brown's comments are disappointing. "The mayor - part of his role is to advocate for our city.  Now, I’m not privy to the investment level. What I am privy to is the fact that the Government took a leadership position on getting major events back into the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's ongoing speculation about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership future, and it's looking more likely challengers could appear. Health Minister Wes Streeting's allies have claimed he's looking to launch a contest for Starmer's job. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are among the weight-loss drugs that more people are taking - but questions have been raised about their economic impacts. These drugs will also have an impact on other sectors, including healthcare and food, and research is still ongoing.  Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait chief executive Richard Wyeth is leaving - after one year in the job.  The South Island dairy processor's released an NZX market update, saying Leon Fung will be acting CEO, effective immediately.  Wyeth will remain supporting the transition, until the end of June.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hotel developments are quietly disappearing and 'ghost communities' are on the rise as Christchurch's council has raised concerns over Airbnbs. Four motel and hotel operators urged elected members at a policy and planning committee meeting to support a mandatory registration system for short term accommodation providers. Councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine wants Christchurch to take charge in rallying other councils to demand change.  "All we ask for is...we need the data. It's not saying we want to ban them, it's not saying anything like that. It's just saying, at the moment, we're in this crazy situation where we're hiring compliance officers - they have to do stake outs and surfing online and fielding complaints about who's renting out what."   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 May, 2026, we confront Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his claim not one person outside of Newstalk ZB is raising Covid lockdowns with him. Air New Zealand's chief executive tells us how it'll cope with a loss of nearly $400 million. A Christchurch City Councillor on his warning that Airbnb is turning parts of the city into "ghost communities". And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson tell us if they think Robbie Williams is worth a reported $3 million to bring to New Zealand. 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.