Larry Williams Drive

A landmark Supreme Court ruling means those providing full-time care for severely disabled family members are entitled to pay and other benefits. It was brought by two parents, Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys, who care for severely disabled adult children.  Lawyer Paul Dale KC says parents in this position are now entitled to the legal benefits that come under the Employment Relations Act. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A signal from the Reserve Bank's led Westpac to hike rates - and one economist expects other banks could follow.  Westpac lifted two five-year fixed rates by 30 basis points yesterday. The bank's chief economist, Kelly Eckhold, says it seems the Reserve Bank's unlikely to cut the OCR again any time soon.  "We kind of expected that they would cut the rate by 25 basis points, but we didn't expect them to call time on the easing cycle. It sort of scared the markets a little bit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers' Union has raised concerns about Nicola Willis' skills as a Finance Minister - and one of her predecessors has expressed interest in a debate. Willis challenged Ruth Richardson to a debate yesterday, after Richardson criticised the Government's fiscal track.  Richardson's agreed - but a date's yet to be set.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump is defending his controversial economic policies amid ongoing concerns about the cost of living. Data shows two-thirds of Americans say the Trump administration has fallen short of expectations in handling inflation and economic turmoil. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says Trump has blamed the Democrats and the previous Biden administration for the state of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders have been sent an unprecedented email from our National Cyber Security Centre. It's emailed 26,000 addresses warning malicious software, called Lumma Stealer, could have infected their devices. It's designed to steal sensitive information - and some stolen passwords are connected to Government agency systems and bank accounts. Aura Information Manager, Patrick Sharp, says international partners revealed the threat to our cyber security centre. He explained that presumably means an agency's uncovered a trove of stolen data and alerted the NCSC about the email addresses of concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ray of sunshine for the Black Caps on the opening day of the second test against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. New Zealand newbie Michael Rae has stepped up on debut, taking his maiden test wicket - luring West Indian opener John Campbell into flashing an edge to first slip Daryl Mitchell after lunch - Campbell made 44. Blair Tickner had earlier stalled the tourists' progress after an opening stand of 66 - securing the lbws of recalled batters Brandon King and Kavem Hodge. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 9 December 2025, the big RMA reform is finally here. RMA Minister Chris Bishop explains what resource consents you will soon not need anymore. The Education Minister reacts to all the dubious spending by schools and principals that's been highlighted by the Auditor General. Economist Brad Olsen finally settles the debate over whether our long summer holidays are hurting the economy. Plus, New Zealand Navy's Commodore Shane Arndell reveals the messages the Chinese war ships sent our navy while the HMNZS Aotearoa was patrolling near North Korea and Taiwan. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These RMA changes hit the nail on the head by putting private property rights front and centre. These rights are basically what keeps rich countries rich and their absence keeps poor countires poor. If a council wants to infringe on them, it should compensate you for it. And these changes lower the threshold for compensation, which is a good thing. Want to suddenly invent a Significant Natural Area or label something 'heritage'? Well, that may cost you, Councillor. It'll make councils think twice before imposing some of this stupid stuff on property owners. We've had too examples of councils just making these up and restricting land use on a whim. On an airy fairy idea. The reason property rights are so important is simple. You use your land as collateral to borrow. To build. To invest. Owning acts as an incentive to build assets. It creates growth and production. This production is then taxed. The taxes pay for nice, communal things that everybody likes. Like classrooms and hospitals. What we need now is for

We learnt this week that A New Zealand Navy vessel was followed by 7 Chinese Warships while patrolling Asian waters. The HMNZS Aotearoa had crossed through the Taiwan Strait, and was patrolling international waters to curb North Korean war programmes.  Commodore Shane Arndell told Ryan Bridge that this is a routine practice, and communication was open between the HMNZS Aotearoa and the Chinese fleet.  'We communicate, we let each other know what we're doing, we keep it all nice and safe and everything is respectful.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RMA is out and is set to be replaced with two new laws - one based on planning and one based on the environment.  The new laws are expected to cut the number of consents and permits by 46%, and speed up the ones currently in the pipeline.  CEO of the Property Council Leonie Freeman told Ryan Bridge she hopes that, "the reduction of 100 plans down to 17 will provide a lot more consistency." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auditor-General has released its annual report on questionable spending by schools - and some stand out more than the rest.  Sutton Park School spent $11,000 on a staff planning meeting at Sky City, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mangere spent $22,000 on a boat cruise, and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tonga o Hokianga spent $6,000 on a trip to Turkey for the principal with 'No clear business purpose.' The Ministry of Education says that over 2400 schools were audited and only a handful were 'commented on' by the auditor-general.  Education Minister Erica Stanford blamed the previous government, saying that, 'It wasn't particularly fit for purpose and it didn't have good guard rails to prevent exactly what's happened.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The length of New Zealand's summer holiday - isn't as bad for the economy as some may think.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon's weighed in on debate - saying after working overseas, he's used to returning to work about January 3  - which he'll probably do again this summer.  Infometrics Chief Executive, Brad Olsen, says supermarkets and tourism boom over the period.  He says the professional services industry shuts down longer, but that's not the entire economy.  Olsen says March quarterly GDP relative to average quarterly GDP - and it's only two percent below the average for the rest of the financial year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACC has backed down and will continue to let staff work from home three days a week.  The corporation had proposed cutting that allowance back to two days a week at home - so the public service association then complained to the commerce commission.  National Secretary of the PSA Fleur Fitzsimmons told Ryan Bridge that there was no problem before the proposed change, and that the staff's strong response contributed to the company's decision to back down.  'We took legal action, we went to the Commerce Commission. And really all of those things have countered towards ACC's decision today.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Resource Management Act is officially bound for the scrapheap. The Government's replacing the hefty legislation with two new laws - one based around planning, and the other on the environment. The new laws will cut consent and permit numbers by 46-percent, and speed up those still required. Barry Soper told Ryan Bridge that he's 'overwhelmed' with the scrapping of the Resource Management Act, and says he agrees with Chris Bishop's claim that this is the largest economic reform in a generation.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many aesthetic changes to buildings will no longer need consents - under the Government's Resource Management Act shake-up. The replacement Planning and Natural Environment Bills are being introduced to Parliament today - and will pass next year.  RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says planners won't be able to block projects because of visual changes - as long as other people aren't affected. He told Ryan Bridge that planners have got involved in some cases, to a ridiculous degree.  Bishop says that includes the direction doors face and where televisions were placed in living rooms.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are warning student debt is stopping New Zealanders coming home for Christmas. Its survey of 400 expat Kiwis found 71 percent were overdue on payments - and 82 percent are worried about their loan. The Green Party's calling for a cross-Parliament inquiry into the repayment scheme for Kiwis living overseas. Spokesperson Lawrence Xu-Nan told Ryan Bridge that inflexible repayment schemes, interest rates and penalty fees are driving people away. He says these are people with skills gained overseas we want to eventually attract back to contribute to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push to get Kiwis talking about systemic issues leading to child abuse. The Dear Children campaign has launched today - with a letter to kids and parents countrywide, focusing on preventing all forms of child maltreatment Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad says child homicide cannot be ignored. She told Ryan Bridge on average, one child is killed every five weeks, but it's not too late for change, so eventually children will grow up in New Zealand feeling safe. She says it starts with awareness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public transport users in the Capital can start using debit and credit cards and phones on buses and trains - from next March. Greater Wellington Regional Council will introduce contactless payments - at a cost of 5.5 million dollars.  It's jumping the gun on the Government National Ticketing System, scheduled for mid-2027.  Council Chair Daran Ponter told Ryan Bridge they don't trust the timeline.  He says he's sick of telling Wellington commuters they can't have something that's available in Auckland and Australia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 8 December 2025, the EMA's Alan McDonald outlines why tomorrow's RMA overhaul is so desperately needed and why he thinks the Government is coming with the bazooka approach. Will the big Netflix-Warner Brothers deal lead to fewer films in cinemas? Media commentator Duncan Greive weighs in. The Children's Commissioner has launched a campaign against child homicide, but are the country's worst parents really going to pay attention? Labour's Chris Hipkins rejects Andrew Coster's assertion he'd been briefed about the McSkimming affair - and says he has a witness. Plus, the Huddle debate the Children's Commission's campaign against child homicide and whether the days of boozy and lavish Christmas parties are over. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smaller electricity retailers and generators are worried impending power market reforms won't create the level playing-field promised.  The Electricity Authority's proposed a non-discrimination rule that will force gentailers to play fair when deciding to sell electricity to itself or other companies.  Some smaller players, including Electric Kiwi, have written to the authority saying the rule doesn't go far enough.  Its Chief Executive Huia Burt told Ryan Bridge the rule only applies to leftover electricity.  But she says that could be a very insignificant amount of the total volume - which doesn't create a level playing field.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.