Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 7 July 2025, the jury has found mushroom cook Erin Patterson guilty on all charges - three cases of murder, and one case of attempted murder. 1 News correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin tells Ryan Bridge there were several pieces of slam dunk evidence. Should former PM Dame Jacinda Ardern give evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid response? Its chair says she can't be compelled while overseas. Auckland Council is throwing Takapuna Golf Course a lifeline - but it might not result in the golf course keen golfers want. Plus, the Huddle debates whether shopkeepers should be allowed to citizens arrest thieving kids. 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.

Should Jacinda Ardern return to the country and face the Covid inquiry music? The answer, I think, must be yes. I confirmed this morning on my Herald NOW show that the Royal Commission has reached out to Jacinda and asked her to attend in August. The KC running the show would not answer whether she'd replied or whether she'd lawyered up, but he did say that the only way to get out of attending is if you're not the in the country because they don't have jurisdiction. So the question is: as a former Prime Minister who wielded more power than Muldoon - war-time executive powers - as somebody who's always claimed their intentions were good, and as somebody who's claimed they were in politics for the children, will the former PM front this inquiry and be honest? Honest about what really went on behind closed doors and behind those PPE masks? Boris Johnson appeared at his country's inquiry, and twiddled his fingers and answered all that was put before him. Isn't there a moral obligation to the people of N

Health Minister Simeon Brown has revealed the make-up of the new Health Zealand Board - who will take over in a fortnight. They, along with a Crown Observer, will replace the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners appointed last year. Experienced clinical director Doctor Andrew Connolly, and current Deputy Commissioner Roger Jarrold are among those appointed. Brown says Commissioner Lester Levy will stay on as Chair for a year. "This is about making sure we have continuity of leadership at Health New Zealand. The organisation's going through a reset - making sure it's refocused on patients." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's fears broadening citizen's arrest powers could endanger young people. The Government has proposed allowing the arrests at all times of day - and wants to clarify when reasonable force can be applied.  Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said it could allow children to be restrained until police arrive. Chief Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad says citizen's arrests won't prevent stealing and could lead to violence. "A number of agencies that have given advice to the Government on this - police, justice, Oranga Tamariki, Crown Law, among others - they've highlighted this risk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's slim options for Takapuna Golf Course, which looks likely to halve in size under an Auckland Council plan to turn it into a flooding wetland. The Council's final proposal converts the course into a flood-protection area. Public consultation is planned for later this year, including how to use the dry half.  Auckland Council Head of Sustainable Partnership, Tom Mansell, says they don't want golf in the wetland section. "In the remaining area, if they can fit an 18-hole in and that's what the Kaipātiki board wants, then we'll work on that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry has begun, with many voices from business, tourism, and events venting frustration over the response. The Royal Commission of Inquiry will run until Thursday - and many are wondering if former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be called up to weigh in. Sir Ian Taylor says it would be 'wonderful' if Ardern found a way to give some answers. "It would perhaps reinforce the concept that everything she did was to be kind, to be part of the team of five million - and this is the time for the team of five million to come together to figure out how we deal to this better next time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Erin Patterson is facing life in prison after being found guilty this afternoon of triple-murder.  The 50-year-old appeared emotionless as a jury delivered its verdict to the Supreme Court, ending seven days' deliberations. It agreed Patterson deliberately fed members of her estranged husband's family a beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, killing three and attempting to kill a fourth.  1News Australia correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin says media from around the world have been covering this case ahead of the verdict. "There's been 125 pieces of evidence that have been put forward to the jury, they've had to analyse an 86-page chronology of the testimony that's happened over the last 10 weeks - so as you can imagine, there's a really big responsibility for this jury to get it right."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former broadcaster and journalist Oriini Kaipara is putting her name forward to be Te Pāti Māori's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate after Takutai Tarsh Kemp died, triggering a by-election. Kaipara has an extensive broadcasting background and has worked for Mai FM, TVNZ, Māori TV and Newshub - where she presented the Saturday morning politics-heavy show The Nation.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says nominations close this afternoon, with more to be revealed in the coming days.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Erin Patterson can now be called a triple-murderer after a nine-week trial ended in a guilty verdict. A jury has unanimously agreed the 50-year-old deliberately laced a beef wellington with death cap mushrooms, killing three members of her estranged husband's family. She's also been found guilty of attempting to murder a fourth person, after a jury deliberated more than six days. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says each charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's pinpointing the main area he wants the team to set their hearts on this week. After opening their test season with a scrappy four-point win over France - the All Blacks are keen for a step up in Saturday's second match in Wellington. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Hospital is trialling cutting maternity and gynaecology beds to ease ED pressure.  Staff have been told maternity overflow space will be re-purposed as 12 more Emergency Department places. NZ College of Midwives Chief Executive Alison Eddy says staff in Wellington have reported the current maternity facility is over 100 percent occupancy. "There might be spare beds today, but on a regular basis they're over capacity. And I think the other really important thing to bear in mind is that maternity is like the ED of the maternity service... it can have unpredictable demand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 4 July. 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.

Digital cameras are seeing an explosion in sales following the latest Gen-Z trends.  These cameras have widely been considered dated since the arrival of smartphones. However, the younger generations seem to have made the switch back.  Auckland Camera Centre Manager Nick Khoey told Heather du-Plessis Alan that the rise in demand for these cameras has been outstanding.   ‘We’ve been selling them new, used... we just can’t keep them in stock’  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Festivities are kicking off in Dunedin - a day before it hosts its only All Blacks game this year.   The first international match of 2025 against France has sold out at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night.  But the opening of Christchurch's new stadium in April could mean Dunedin will host even fewer matches.    Mayor Jules Radich told Heather du Plessis-Allan he isn't worried.   He says the rugby union will continue to share games around the country.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says a Labour MP's claim is a deliberate attempt to undermine hard-working officers.  Labour's Deborah Russell told Newstalk ZB Police were being told not to attend domestic violence crimes.  Political Editor Jason Walls told Heather du Plessis-Allan that data shows police are attending 7.7 percent more family violence callouts, since changing the triage system.  He says Mitchell called Russell's claim complete nonsense.  She clarified she meant to say family violence is one of the most common forms of violent crime - but often underreported.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, tell me what you think of this.  There seems to be a bit of an effort underway at the moment to portray IRD as bad guys because they're chasing Kiwis overseas who owe money on their student loans.  Now, tell me if you think that we should let either of these two off the hook on the money that they owe.  The first is a pilot who moved to Australia 10 years ago. He now owes IRD $170,000. That is his original loan, plus basically mostly interest.  He says he moved there for a pilot job in 2014, did it for six years, lost it during COVID, had to take a low-paying job in a storage warehouse.  He's a pilot again, but this loan is so big, he doesn't know if he's ever gonna be able to pay it back.  Should we let him off his debt?  Or do you, like me, look at what a regional commercial pilot in Australia can earn, which is over $100,000 and possibly even closer to $200,000 Australian dollars, and think, he can probably afford to start paying back that debt.  The second is

The team purchasing the newly public-owned Cook Strait ferries says the process can't be compared to private contractors. Kiwirail's new ferries aren't expected to be in service until Christmas 2029. Ferry Holdings Chair, Chris Mackenzie, says part of the issue is the Government is buying new ferries - not second-hand. He also told Heather du Plessis-Allan they fulfil different needs, with the Government providing a year-round service, which the private sector can't afford. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act's David Seymour says a unit for verifying the costs of pre-election political policy promises - would add more bureaucracy.  Act and New Zealand First torpedoed a proposal by Finance Minister Nicola Willis to publicly fund such a service.  National declined Labour’s offer of support.  Seymour claims his Party managed to release a fully costed alternative Budget without it.  He says he doesn't like the idea that people need bureaucracy to tell them what is good or accurate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Realestate.co.nz survey found that 24% of respondents bought a property without initially intending to purchase, with 8% buying spontaneously in the past year.   Agent Rawdon Christie told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's hard to believe people are really buying on a whim.   He says there's a mountain of paper work and regulations to get through before signing on the dotted line.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed Rachel Reeves to remain chancellor "into the next election and for many years after" after she was seen crying in the Commons yesterday. Starmer had initially refused to say whether Reeves would remain in her job until the next election. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the party's had a 'rocky' week - and they've faced a lot of scrutiny.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.