Larry Williams Drive

Oil prices have jumped more than three percent on the back of another snag in negotiations between the US and Iran.  Donald Trump has taken to social media to call Iran's response to a US 14-point memorandum 'totally unacceptable'.  Brent crude is now trading at more than 104 US dollars a barrel.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has left Te Pāti Māori to start a new party. Is this the beginning of the end for them? What do we think?  Does New Zealand have to worry about far-right populism sweeping through the nation? Between Reform and One Nation, do we see New Zealand getting its own counterpart? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re never going to know for sure what tipped the Government into finally cutting the fees-free policy but I would like to take some credit for this show’s part in it. We have harped on about the need to get rid of that policy for so long that it actually started to get boring, even for me. But as with everything: persevere and you will succeed. And finally, the policy is gone. We had it confirmed by Winston Peters on Friday. Now, I’ve already had emails from people who are upset about this. I’ve heard students complaining and I’ve heard some parents complaining as well. And I understand - it is never fun to have free Government money taken away from you. It is because of this kind of angst that free Government money is so rarely clawed back once it’s started being handed out. But this policy was a dog from the start. It cost perhaps $350 million a year - and $350 million a year is a lot of money. For that money, it didn’t do what it was supposed to do, which was to lift enrolments among poorer kids. If it d

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 11 May, 2026, we ask a Māori political commentator if others will join Mariameno Kapa-Kingi in leaving Te Pati Māori to start their own party. A school principal tells us why he'll defy an order to not let children take home leftover lunches. Don Mackinnon on how much of a blow it is in delaying NZ20 for a year. And on The Huddle, Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson discuss whether it's the beginning of the end for Te Pati Maori. One of them says we wouldn't have Te Pati Pakeha. 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.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has backed the decision to scrap the fees-free scheme for good. Last week, Winston Peters revealed to Newstalk ZB on Friday the Government's doing away with the free final year of tertiary education. Nicola Willis says it's important for the Government to invest in things that Kiwis really need and want - not a failed policy that didn't achieve any of the goals it aimed to accomplish. "New Zealand has been in deficit since 2019, we're carrying a heck of a lot of debt, we've got some real priorities for our budget in terms of the health system, the education we want to give our young kids, the defence system we want to build up, the infrastructure we want to build - all of those things have a better call on money."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view Government attacks on public service workers are driving them out of the country.  New Public Service Commission data finds a quarter are considering quitting the country for better pay overseas.  Health and public service department workers are most likely to pack their bags. PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says workers want to build a future here, but they're seeing an 'onslaught' of measures that negatively impact them. "We saw it in the cuts to public services, we've seen it in the cancelling of pay equity claims, now they're coming after holidays and leave in their changes with the Employment Leave Bill. It's not surprising that people are looking to go overseas."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposed privately-backed NZ20 competition will be readjusted for a 2028 launch instead, NZ Cricket confirmed.  Organisers have pushed back the launch by a full year, abandoning plans to mark out their run-up in January 2027. NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon says it's a shared decision between the organisation and NZ Cricket - and it's important to get things right. "Unfortunately, the window that we've got for January '27 is just too tight, particularly with the other commitments that we've locked in for test cricket. So it makes good sense." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence from some that the hantavirus outbreak won't turn into another worldwide pandemic. Passengers are being evacuated and returning to home countries, including one New Zealander. Authorities say one of five French passengers developed symptoms flying to Paris, and will isolate until further notice.  Otago University epidemiologist, Michael Baker, says person to person transmission is very unusual for this virus. "And when they're investigated, these are often people who are living in the same house or the same bedroom or are spending a lot of time together - it's not from casual contact."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political science lecturer says party affiliation isn't everything in Māori seats, as Mariameno Kapa-Kingi breaks away. She's cut ties with Te Pati Māori to create the Te Tai Tokerau Party and run in the seat of the same name. Te Pati Māori's wished her well - but is promising to put up another candidate to take her on.  Victoria University's Lara Greaves says it's an open race for all seven seats.  "They're hyper-local, so local issues are really important - but also, sometimes, strategy is important. Again, really hard to tell."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition appears to have good odds of winning the next election, largely thanks to New Zealand First.  The NZ Herald - Motu Research Poll of Polls suggests there is an 88.3 percent probability the coalition will win a second term.  The model shows it's extended its lead over the opposition by two points in the last 12 months. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained how this data is calculated - and whether voters can take it seriously. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The right wing One Nation party is uprooting Australia's status quo - scoring a seat that had long been a conservative stronghold. Candidate David Farley won more than 57 percent of the vote in the regional Farrer by-election, triggered by former Liberals leader Sussan Ley's ousting.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says One Nation is eyeing off seats in other areas, and it's unclear what this could mean for Labor ahead of the next election.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chairman of the NZ20 accepts it became an inevitability that they would need to delay the launch of the franchise cricket competition until 2028. Don Mackinnon says they reached the point that it couldn't be done properly this summer with the Black Caps touring Australia and then welcoming Sri Lanka soon after. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Education has told schools receiving free lunches to not let children take home leftover meals. The Ministry has cited food safety concerns - and says uneaten meals should be returned to the supplier to avoid extra risks.  Hora Hora school principal Pat Newman says his school's seen no incidents of any students getting ill from leftover food.  "There's no proof - the only lunches that anyone's gotten ill from is the ones that were supplied from the Ministry in the first place. We actually take better care."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 8 May, 2026, Winston Peters insists he won't support efforts by the National Party to raise the retirement age. We talk to one of the women who's accused Sir Rod Drury of inappropriate conduct about him handing back his New Zealander of the Year award.   The New Zealand Herald's media insider Shayne Currie on who should succeed Maiki Sherman as TVNZ's political editor. And on the Sports Huddle, Adam Cooper and Paul Allison discuss Luke Metcalf's future with the Warriors. 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.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to start lifting the pension age if National get back into government after the coming election. Bipartisan support will most likely be needed to make this happen as parties, like NZ First, are staunchly against the reform. "Please do not attack grandmother and grandmother's savings to try and disguise for a brief time your economic incompetence," Winston Peters said to Heather du Plessis-Allan LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If it’s not already obvious to you, the fact that Maiki Sherman has lost her job should now make it very clear: the media—especially the state broadcasters, both of them—are about to find out what it means not just to make and report the news but to be the news. Just look at what’s happened this week alone. And this is only a sample—this has been building for some time.In one week, TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has lost her job over poor behaviour in a minister’s office. David Seymour, the ACT Party leader, has taken a significant swipe at RNZ for hiring John Campbell, who is well known for voting left—something he’s said himself. Seymour has even gone so far as to suggest the head of RNZ should lose his job over it. Then there’s the BSA, effectively the head girl telling everyone off for bad jokes at the party, being abolished. The politicians are coming for the media and Sherman’s case is an example of that. The National Party lined her up. They complained about her allegedly door-knocking Stuart Smit

Opportunity Party, previously TOP, are coming in hot this election with a brand new leader Qiulae Wong.  Wong joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the party's campaign policies including universal basic income. She says the Opportunity Party is appealing to dissatisfied Green, National, and Labour voters.  "We are certainly seeing people from across the political spectrum coming to Opportunity." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, Labour's bracing itself for a set of local, Scottish and Welsh election results. Reports claim a poor showing in these elections could bring about the end of Keir Starmer’s prime ministership, and significant losses are projected.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says there's growing calls for Starmer's resignation already - and people are losing confidence as Reform gets more attention.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of computer components has shot up, and there's concerns about what it could mean for the tech sector. The shortage of memory chips has prompted tech investors to worry about what this could mean for the market. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protein is seeing a surge in popularity all over the world, and that's great news for Kiwi farmers. Reports claim a boom industry has developed around supplying high protein calories for those who are losing muscle mass from taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.