Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 28 November 2025, police have arrested more people in relation to a huge drug smuggling ring at Auckland Airport. A trial to only collect rubbish from Aucklanders every two weeks is off to a bad start. The council has revealed that almost 80% of the feedback has been negative. Consumer NZ has revealed the worst deals you can buy for Black Friday. After years of being mothballed, Waiwera Thermal Springs is getting revamped - the man behind the redevelopment explains the vision. Plus, the Sports Huddle debates what the heck is going on at Cricket NZ and whether the proposed new T20 competition would save or ruin the local game. 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.

I've reached the conclusion that when it comes to the banks and mortgage rates, the only option you've got left is to hustle. You're on your own here. It has been 2 days since the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate, and by how much do you think the big banks have cut their fixed rates? No, not a jot. Not, not a single basis point. Absolutely nothing has come off their fixed rates. It's not particularly helpful from the banks cause, you know, we're trying to get the country out of recession and the point of cutting the OCR is that the mortgage rates come down and then when you refix, you've got more disposable cash and the more cash you have, the more you're gonna spend and the faster we're gonna get out of this recession. So thumbs up and thanks very much to the big banks for not helping. Obviously, it's smart business for them. They need to make as much money as they can. The prediction is they will eventually cut the OCR cut their mortgage rates, but it'll be next year. It won't be this side of Christm

A three-month long investigation has revealed that many of the offers available this Black Friday are not the bargain they may seem to be.  Consumer NZ conducted an investigation into Briscoes, Noel Leeming, Farmers and Harvey Norman, and found that customers could have picked up the same items at a similar or lower price over the three-month investigation.  Consumer NZ's Head of Research Gemma Rasmussen told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, 'there's so much hype around Black Friday, but the deals are a little dubious.' She said that it's important consumers do their research before hitting the shops.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle: Sports Commentator Nicky Styris and NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news. NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink is in hot water over his stance on the proposed T20 league, will it cost him his job? The international Judo Federation has allowed Russian athletes to compete again, breaking away from many global sports organisations who banned Russia after their invasion of Ukraine. And when will we finally get confirmation about Liam Lawson's future in F1? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new plan to make Auckland safer is being welcomed by the city's main business association.  Today Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown unveiled their action plan - including boosting outreach teams to connect rough sleepers with support, and a review of bylaws.  Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Heather du-Plessis Allan that the plan is broad.  She says it picks up things businesses have been crying out for, and while the proof's in the pudding, businesses have got their point across.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction we haven't seen the last of a transnational crime syndicate operating out of Auckland airport. Operation Matata's seen 43 arrests since February, including 20 border workers - allegedly involved with smuggling large quantities of meth and cocaine.  It's thought the group were exploiting baggage handlers at the airport.  Chair of the ministerial advisory group on organised crime Steve Symon told Heather du Plessis-Allan that authorities have done a fantastic job rooting out that many offenders.  But he suspects either there are more, or if not, they'll be replaced like they were at the start of the year.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is hosting a conference in Auckland this weekend, with speculation rising around the potential for new policy announcements from the opposition.  And expelled Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has called on Labour to show 'strategic restraint' in Māori electorates, as he believes it's the best way to unseat the current government.  Thomas Coughland told Heather duPlessis-Allan that it's an 'interesting strategy', and one that has the potential to backfire.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are strongly rejecting a proposed fortnightly rubbish collection trial in select suburbs. The six month trial would start in February, and involve 10-thousand homes in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth. Of the more than five thousand submissions, 78 percent were opposed. Auckland Council's Waste Solutions General Manager Justine Haves told Heather du Plessis-Allan that a final decision will be made next month, but their goal is to cut down waste. She says there's lots of evidence from other councils that fortnightly collections makes a huge difference to the volume of waste. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK’s embattled Labour Government has unveiled a tax-raising budget - after its full contents were leaked half an hour early. The plan's designed to lift economic growth and ease cost-of-living pressures. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged ordinary people would have to pay more, and it's prompted backlash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concerns from experts about the risks surrounding AI investments. Investors believe AI is at risk of forming a stock market bubble, and some analysts are worried about the risks coming home to roost. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Green Party MP Gareth Hughes and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar wants airports around the country to stop giving Jetstar an 'advantage' with discounts that allows them to run cheaper flights. What do we make of this? The Northland business chamber has suggested many businesses in the area won't want to join a class action lawsuit against Transpower because they just want to move on from the collapsed pylon saga? Do we think the business owners will get on board?  New research shows millennials are the first generation to drift further left than their older counterparts. Why do we think this is? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 27 November 2025, Attorney-General Judith Collins tells Heather why she's called a public inquiry on the Tom Phillips case. Air NZ's new boss has asked airports to stop supporting Jetstar's competition edge by giving them discounts. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully speaks to Heather - and Heather reveals why she's booked her first flight on the orange bird. Mike Colson KC explains why he's getting involved in a class action lawsuit against Transpower and Omexom over the toppled power pylon saga. Is NZ becoming more litigious?   Aussie researchers reckon millennials are the first generation to not become more conservative with age. Why is that? Plus, the Huddle debates millennials' politics and flying Jetstar. 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.

Can I give you a positive spin on the recession that we're just coming out of? I mean, maybe it's not so much a positive spin, but maybe it's an explanation for why this recession was harder than it needed to be - but why it actually did need to be this hard. If you've been following the commentary around the Reserve Bank's last two OCR decisions, you'll know there's been a fair bit of chat about the wealth effect and how that has made the recession worse. Now, the wealth effect is the thing that happens when your house goes up in value. You feel rich - you’re not rich, you just feel rich - so you go out and spend more money. And then, of course, when it does the opposite and goes down in value, you feel poor. You're not poor, you just feel it, so you shut your wallet. And that is part of the reason why this recession has dragged - because our house prices are not going up. They have gone backwards, and so we're not spending, which means that we're not spending our way out of the recession. Now, the thing abo

The Reserve Bank has blamed the ongoing recession on an uncertain property market, prompting experts to weigh in. New Zealand has traditionally relied on housing as an engine of growth, but years of flat property prices have reportedly contributed to the ongoing economic downturn. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Inland Revenue Department has launched some new steps in bringing down tax debt - with one scheme linked to a key credit agency. Following a successful pilot, the IRD will report more recalcitrant tax debtors to credit reporting agency Centrix. Centrix Group Managing Director Keith McLaughlin says this scheme is designed to bring down company debt at this stage, not personal debt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strong signals from the Government suggesting the rights and privacy of the children will be paramount in the Tom Phillips inquiry.  Police shot the fugitive dead in September after he was on the run with his kids in the Waikato bush for four years.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained what this case could uncover. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business as usual for Jetstar, despite Air New Zealand taking a swipe at its airport discounts.  Air New Zealand head Nikhil Ravishankar claimed airports are unfairly subsidising the Qantas-owned airline - on our most profitable air routes.  BusinessDesk reports Ravishankar says that includes open-ended discounted landing rights and cost cutting deals.  Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says they're just focused on running their own race.  "The reality is, we've been trying really hard to make sure that we've got a great value proposition in the New Zealand market - and it's great that more Kiwis are giving us a go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is addressing concerns cash is becoming inaccessible by bringing money to rural communities.   It has opened a 12-month trial of a cash depot in Hawke's Bays' Waipukurau - offering a closer site to make withdrawals. Local banks have recently closed, meaning the nearest ATM for locals is 50 kilometres away. Reserve Bank Money and Cash Director, Ian Woolford, says, currently, only businesses can use the depot for cash. "It's quite surprising, about a third of where people get their money from is actually from a retailer...but people might be noticing retailers are increasingly saying - well, we don't really want to accept cash." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are taking class-action over a power outage to of all Northland last year - although the exact loss is still unknown. In June, an inexperienced worker removed nuts from three legs of a pylon, which toppled, cutting electricity to almost the entire region. An opt-out class action against Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor is progressing through the courts.  Stout Street Chambers partner, Mike Colson, says losses will be calculated in due course.  "It's giving Northland businesses an opportunity to be compensated - and second, an opportunity to incentivise those working on critical infrastructure to do a good job out of it." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agency actions regarding the children of fugitive Tom Phillips are going under the microscope, with a report due back mid-next year.  Phillips was on the run nearly four years, ending only when he died in September in a police shootout. Attorney-General Judith Collins says questions will be asked about what Government agencies did to protect the children, what they knew - and did or didn't do. "In this situation, what we can look into is what the Government agencies knew, what they did, and what they didn't do. Should they have done more?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.