Larry Williams Drive

There's growing calls among Auckland business leaders to get the city's economy going again. According to the latest Stats NZ data, Auckland’s 6.1 percent unemployment rate for the June 2025 quarter was the highest of any region and above the national rate of 5.2 percent. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says the Government needs to find a solution to get the city moving again. "We're talking to people on the street, businesses who have struggled through 10 years...they need people, they need customers, they need people here and events are a proven way of doing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Vice President JD Vance and his family have taken a trip to the Cotswolds - and his extensive security detail have raised some eyebrows among the locals. The 20-vehicle convoy has prompted some backlash from the residents. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Green MP Gareth Hughes and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Minister Shane Jones is looking into rationing gas - do we think this is a realistic idea? Do we need to recognise the state of Palestine now - or is the Government right to wait? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meat processor Alliance Group says Dawn Meats is lining up to pay $250 million for a 65 percent stake in the meat co-op. Alliance, a farmer-owned co-operative and New Zealand’s biggest sheep meat exporter, said the deal would give it an enterprise value of $502 million. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark New Zealand is selling 75 percent of its data centre business for about half a billion dollars. Australian-owned Pacific Equity Partners is taking the controlling share of the $705-million-dollar business. Spark will move its data centre assets and operations into a new stand-alone company. Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith explains what this could mean for the business. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 12 August 2025, is the Government about to ration our gas usage? Resources Minister Shane Jones speaks to Heather. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour explains why the Government is taking its time before it recognises Palestine as a state. There are calls to urgently help a Kiwi mum and her son who have been held in US immigration detention for almost three weeks. Heather speaks to her friend to find out how desperate the woman's situation is. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Commodore David Blakey explains the huge rule changes coming for the next America's Cup. Plus, the Huddle debates whether National should roll Chris Luxon. 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.

A growing number of businesses are reporting losses and economists have voiced concerns. IRD data shows that in the 2023 tax year, 107,360 companies out of 475,010 reported a current loss. Another 40,670 were carrying a loss over from a previous tax year. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says these figures are consistent with the current deterioration of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm happy to report to you that it looks like some of us want to play the old 'should Luxon be rolled' game. In the wake of the not-so-great polls that came out yesterday, there is a column by Andrea Vance - who I am name-checking because she's good and credible, and not just some junior reporter with an opinion. In her column, she predicts that Luxon is in trouble, that his caucus is getting impatient, that speculation about his leadership has reached fever pitch - and that if it doesn't improve, she is not sure that he's going to be the one leading the National Party at election time this time next year. Now, if this is really what National MPs are considering, they should ditch that idea immediately because Luxon's not their problem. I mean, he is a problem. There's no debate that with personal popularity sitting at about 20 percent, he is a drag on the National Party - but he is not their actual problem. Their actual problem is that the economy is stuffed and that they haven't yet figured out what to

Health New Zealand is apologising after significant failings led to two murders in Canterbury. An urgent Ministry review was ordered after an on-leave Hillmorton Hospital in-patient killed Laisa Tunidau as she walked home from work in 2022.  During the review - a patient gardening for 83-year-old Frances 'Faye' Phelps, killed her in her home. Health NZ National Director for Mental Health and Addictions Phil Grady says they accept the failings identified in the report. "There is an international challenge in recruiting mental health staff, they are the key engine for operating mental health services. We're focusing really hard on the country, but also on Canterbury." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has voiced support for the recent protocol shakeup set to impact the next America's Cup. The 38th instalment in Naples in 2027 will see the number of sailors on board drop from eight to five, a requirement for one of those to a female, batteries replacing manual power and the introduction of a cost cap. The protocol also outlines a new partnership between all teams, establishing equal authority among those involved. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Commodore David Blakey says the requirement to have a female sailor on board will open doors for new talent. "What this does is that it creates a pathway for our talented young female sailors to go all the way and be able to compete on the America's Cup boats themselves." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resources Minister Shane Jones is investigating whether to ration gas to keep some businesses going. Fertiliser co-operative Ballance last week revealed it's considering a four-month temporary closure after it failed to renew its long-term gas deal. It was outbid by Contact Energy, which is supplying homes. Jones says he'll be focusing on what's doable, to help solve the shortage. "We're not making any blunt decisions, for example, we've got hospitals and schools dependent on gas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister has shaken off accusations from the opposition over the Government's decision to take its time in recognising a Palestinian state. The Government plans to make an official decision in the coming weeks. David Seymour says the Government will take the time needed to decide its stance.  "The Government is taking its time - some say this conflict goes back 4000 years. I don't think it's a major problem for the Government of New Zealand on the other side of the world to take a few weeks to come to a sober and sensible decision."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick will be kicked out of Parliament tomorrow, unless she says sorry for remarks made today. The Auckland Central MP was sent out of the House, after refusing to apologise for suggesting MPs who don't support sanctioning Israel more - don't have a spine. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper questions what Swarbrick aims to accomplish - and wonders what taking a stance on Palestine will do for the wider conflict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has cut its official cash rate 25 basis points, to 3.6 percent.  It's the lowest it's been since April 2023.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says conditions were right for a cut - and he explained inflation appeared to be under control and unemployment is rising.  New Zealand's own Reserve Bank will make its next OCR decision, on Wednesday next week.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America’s Cup teams will be required to compete with a female sailor on board, batteries will replace manual power, and a cost cap has been introduced, in a major shake-up for the next edition. They are just some of the changes made for the 38th instalment in Naples in 2027 with the long-awaited protocol confirmed and released today. The number of sailors on board an AC75 will drop from eight to five, with neither grinders nor cyclors expected to feature.  Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A friend of a New Zealander detained by the US immigration service says it's a 'desperate' situation.   Kiwi Sarah Shaw and her six-year-old son are at a Texas detention facility, after being arrested at the US border with Canada three weeks ago.   Friend Victoria Besancon says the child's legal papers are all in order, but there was some difficulty with Shaw's.  She says the two can't stay there.  "The detention centres in America are pretty comparable to prisons, so she's not doing the best." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motorists over 70 could be banned from the roads if they fail compulsory eye tests as part of a wider shake-up of driving laws in the UK. These changes also include reducing the drink-driving limit in England and Wales and introducing penalty points for passengers not wearing seatbelts. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next US Consumer Price Inflation report will be out this week, and economists are speculating about what this could mean going forward. Markets are keeping an eye on things, as inflation continues to be an issue in the US. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains 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!  Australia has confirmed it will recognise Palestine as a state at the next UN General Assembly. Should we follow their lead? Will this mean anything?  The Government is underperforming in the latest batch of polls - how bad does this all look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new $130 million luxury hotel development in Queenstown is designed to draw in more high-spending visitors. The new hotel will sit on an elevated 1.2 hectare site in front of the award-winning Kamana Lakehouse hotel in Fernhill. Once completed, it will encompass 37 ultra high-end residences across 10 architecturally designed villas, with a central facilities building. Destination Queenstown CEO Mat Woods says this will be a draw card for the entire nation - not just Queenstown. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.