Larry Williams Drive

Former senior minister and attorney-general Chris Finlayson's book Yes, Minister comes out tomorrow. The book is about his time working under John Key. He was the minister responsible for the 2014 deal with Tuhoe that gave them co-governance over Te Urewera National Park. Chris Finlayson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour will hold a caucus meeting to discuss Gaurav Sharma. Sharma has been vocal on Facebook about bullying within the party's caucus, including posting one just as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was about to speak at a post-Cabinet press conference. Viv Beck will not stand down from the Auckland mayoral race. The latest polls have seen her fall to around 12 percent, well behind the other centre-right candidate Wayne Brown and frontrunner Efeso Collins. A Warriors fan has been kicked out of Mt Smart Stadium for doing a shoey. However, the fan, Calley Gibbons, says he'll be back for the team's final game in three weeks against the Cowboys. Neale Jones and Sam Johnson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The HuddleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour will hold a caucus meeting this week to discuss issues Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma has raised. Sharma has slammed party whips and the Parliamentary service - accusing them of gaslighting and bullying. The Party says investigations have found his claims to be baseless. Grant Robertson told Heather du Plessis Allan when there are issues such as this it's expected the caucus would discuss them. “Our rules are such that if any action was to be taken, it is a caucus decision rather than the decision of any individual, and so it makes sense to have a meeting to talk any issues through.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Phil Pennington of RNZ Speed cameras that take two pictures at different spots in order to work out a vehicle's average speed could be in use within months. Transport Agency documents say law changes could allow them to be used against more offences including tailgating, and seeing inside a car to spot drivers using cellphones or not belted in. The OIA papers show Waka Kotahi has been working on this and a new highway tolling system that can also be used for congestion charging, for a couple of years. Its plans say the point-to-point or average-speed cameras "could be a game changer enabling us to manage corridor speeds rather than spot speed". They would be three times better than fixed or mobile speed cameras at cutting the road toll, a business case said. The smart cameras "can be used to provide evidence, for example, that a driver is using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt". "Camera-based enforcement can be invasive, as images are purposely taken of the driver and passenger compartment," the bu

Labour MP Dr Gaurav Sharma has reiterated his claims of bullying within Parliament, now claiming he complained to the Prime Minister's chief of staff in December last year. In a social media post this afternoon, uploaded while Jacinda Ardern was speaking to media in Wellington, the Hamilton West MP purported to provide screenshots of messages from other MPs who he claims had also been bullied. Sharma also alleged some MPs had asked him how to fake a Covid test to avoid coming to Parliament due to workplace bullying. Ardern, during today's post-Cabinet press conference, said she had not seen any evidence that would substantiate Sharma's bullying claims against Labour's former chief whip and MP Kieran McAnulty. "I can see that there has been a disagreement but I haven't seen evidence that suggests or substantiates those allegations," Ardern said. Sharma first alleged "rampant" bullying within Parliament, including between MPs, in a Herald opinion piece published late last week. Ardern told RNZ this morning Shar

An Auckland Mayoral candidate says she isn't going anywhere. Former Auckland City mayor John Banks is calling on the business leader to throw in the towel to avoid splitting the vote with Wayne Brown. Beck's poll ratings have slumped from 20 percent in June to 12.5 per cent in last Friday's Ratepayers' Alliance-Curia poll, behind Brown and Councillor Efeso Collins. Viv Beck was asked by Heather Du Plessis Allan whether she will drop out to give Wayne Brown a chance. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite that amazing All Blacks win in over the weekend, the team is still mired in controversy. Head coach Ian Foster says he still isn't sure whether he'll be in the job by Argentina. NZR CEO Mark Robinson has refused to say one way or the other but has announced a review into the start of the season. Former NZR CEO David Moffett joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine's ready to buy weapons and other military assets from countries around the world. We're sending 120 NZDF personnel to the UK over the coming weeks to help train about 800 Ukrainian infantry recruits. The contingent will be deployed until the end of November. Ukrainian Ambassador to New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko told Heather du Plessis-Allan he met with our Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Defence Minister last week. He says they discussed the possibility of buying items from New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor-General David Hurley has confirmed he swore Scott Morrison into multiple ministerial roles – in some cases without the existing minister’s knowledge – but has distanced himself from the decision to keep the changes a secret. In March 2020, the former Prime Minister was sworn in as a second Health Minister and second Finance Minister, with the move never made public, even to his colleagues. The Governor-General’s office said in a statement to news.com.au it was acting on the advice of Mr Morrison and the decision to publicise the arrangements was a matter for “the government of the day”. This development comes shortly after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blasted his predecessor’s secrecy, and confirmed he was seeking advice on the legality of Mr Morrison’s appointments. “This is extraordinary and unprecedented,” he said. “In Australia, we have a Westminster system of government that produces accountability. This is the sort of tin-pot activity that we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic coun

NZ Rugby are in a pickle with Ian Foster. Following the All Black's 35-23 victory over South Africa in Johannesburg, Mark Robinson kept his cards close to his chest in a press conference yesterday. The side were able to show a dramatic improvement in their second match after a record loss to the Springboks last week. A Warriors fan has been kicked out of Mt Smart Stadium for doing a shoey. Calley Gibbons became a Warriors cult hero after being spotted on TV sinking a beer from his shoe in front of the coaches' box — where he has sat since 2006. However, he will be attending the final game of the season. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland local government veteran says changes to public transport are sensible. The Government's announced a change allowing local councils to take over and operate bus services themselves. Currently, bus fleets are contracted to private companies. Former Auckland Regional Council Chair Mike Lee told Heather du Plessis-Allan the danger is the operation becomes top-heavy with management. “If they come up with a competitive company and a lean management structure and repay the grinders what they deserve.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to wrap the sporting news of the day, plus look ahead to the All Blacks second test against South Africa at Ellis Park on Sunday morning. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport Minister Michael Wood plans to give councils the power to ban cars on roads at certain times and remove kerbside parking in favour of cycleways and bus lanes - without prior consultation. Wood also wants councils to restrict traffic outside schools to encourage parents and children to walk and cycle - improving exercise safety. But the minister has assured parents who drive their children to school that they have nothing to worry about and will still be able to drop them off nearby. The proposals come from the "Reshaping Streets" report, devised to help councils and Auckland Transport (AT) quickly make widespread changes to streets to support public transport, cycling, walking and people-friendly spaces. Transport Minister Michael Wood. Photo / Alex Burton Wood said the changes will also help meet the country's climate change emission reduction targets and make roads safer for all users. National Party transport spokesman Simeon Brown described "Reshaping Streets" as a radical proposal that reveal

Well Gaurav Sharma should try to enjoy what’s left of his parliamentary career, because it’s going to end. They’re coming after him and I don’t think he’s going to survive this drama he’s created. I have no idea what made him think he could take on the Labour party and more importantly the Prime Minister’s office with that bullying column in the Herald yesterday.  The guys in the PM’s office are some of the slickest in the country right now with dealing with crises and he is a backbench MP with no idea how to play this game so watch them paint him as the problem here.  It’s already started. They’ve just very gently dropped hints here and there. So we’ve found out from them today that there’s already a hiring freeze for his office, which signals that he might be a problem boss doesn’t it?  And they’ve let us now that there was a meeting between him and the Labour party whip and parliamentary services yesterday and they met in ‘good faith’. But, as we know, he put out a column yesterday so clearly the inference

It’s probably too early to say one way or the other whether this FBI raid is going to help Trump if he runs for the White House in 2024. But, it is a question people are asking - and with good reason. Because what’s already obvious is that it gives Trump relevance.  All of a sudden he’s back in the news and he’s a victim again (at least according to him) of a “corrupt” system.  We might see it differently. We might look at this situation and see Trump as the author of his own misfortune, because he was the one reportedly flushing official documents down the toilet.  And taking boxes of the stuff to Mar-a-Lago, when it should have been returned.  And we might think no one’s above the law, including and especially ex-presidents but that’s not what he’s telling his supporters - and that is not what his supporters think.  Trump has already very masterfully portrayed himself as the victim of a witch hunt, which he claims is evidence that everyone in the swamp is corrupt  and which - in this version of reality - re

Youth criminals are terrorising business owners at a mall in Palmerston North with seemingly no punishment. Around 30 teenagers smashed up downtown shopping centre, stealing items and causing chaos. They then came back the next day, taunting shop owners with the items they stole before attacking a daughter of a bakery owner and then attacking other staff as they tried to help. So far only two girls have been arrested. A Palmerston North store owner who has had a run in with these teens, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol companies are reducing their investment in grassroots sport. A recent Alcohol Healthwatch audit shows only three percent of Auckland rugby union teams have booze branding on uniforms. Most sponsorships were from local construction, real estate, and sportswear brands. Executive director Dr Nicki Jackson says concerns the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Bill will affect grassroots sport, are unwarranted. Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick's private member's Alcohol harm minimisation bill aims to abolish appeals on local alcohol policies, returning power to communities to decide how many liquor stores can operate in their area. The second part of the bill will ban alcohol sponsorship of sports and venues and advertising during the broadcasts of live sporting events. Chlöe Swarbrick joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB nighttime host Marcus Lush will be taking a tilt at the Invercargill Mayor. Lush will face off against eight other contenders and the long serving Sir Tim Shadbolt who has been in charge since 1998. He won't be hanging up his microphone though he says he'll keep his hosting job on his top rating radio show. Marcus Lush joined Heather du Plessis Allan Drive to discuss his upcoming mayoralty race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you’ll have caught up on the news now that the government is making it easier for teenagers to get NCEA qualifications this year, for the third year in a row. They’ve lowered the standards, schools are again allowed to award extra credits called learning recognition credits and they get one for every 5 credits that the students achieves. The threshold for University Entrance has been lowered as well. So, instead of needing 14 credits in 3 different approved subjects, the kids can get by with 14 credits in 2 subjects, and then 12 credits in a third. Now I’m prepared to be argued against on this but I reckon this is the right thing to do and I shock myself even saying that. The COVID disruption to kids this year, and not just COVID but really just general disruption across the board to kids this year has been out of this world. I was talking to a principal today who told me that some schools have seen attendance as low as 30 percent. The kids are sick, the family members are sick, they are household contacts

Milford Asset Management's Sam Tretheway joined Heather du Plessis Allan Drive to discuss his profit predictions for companies on the NZX.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.