Larry Williams Drive

Speaker Trevor Mallard is returning early from Ireland - ending his job as Ambassador. Winston Peters has appointed senior foreign affairs staffer Angela Hassan-Sharp to replace Mallard. Peters claims Mallard's behaviour during the anti-mandate occupation at Parliament should've disqualified him from the role.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Mallard's behaviour during the anti-mandate occupation at Parliament should have raised concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian federal government has cancelled the visa of Israeli politician Simcha Rothman days before he was set to arrive for a speaking event. Rothman, whose party is part of  Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, previously advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and denied claims of starvation in the territory. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke claimed Australia would not accept people travelling to cause division. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues are poised to head across town to Mount Smart for two Super Rugby games next year. The New Zealand Herald reports the Blues are still planning to play most of their games at their usual Eden Park base, but are looking closely across town. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Education says much more needs to be done, as more Kiwi kids fall behind in school. New data shows just 24 percent of Year 8 students have achieved the curriculum level in writing. The Government's hoping to turn that around with a writing action plan, which includes tools for handwriting, literacy and reading for teachers and students. Erica Stanford says the Government's new English curriculum aims to 'plug the gap' among Kiwi students. "This is for those children that are in Years 6 to 8, who will not have all of the benefits of those things coming through primary." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's gearing up for his second meeting at the White house, but he won't be carrying this out alone.   The leaders of the UK, France and Germany and the European Commission will be joining Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. UK correspondent Gavin Grey spoke ahead of the meeting, and weighed up multiple possible outcomes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 18 August 2025, big changes are coming for building consents and who is liable when things go wrong. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk tells Heather some details still need to be ironed out. Ukraine's Ambassador to New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko speaks to Heather ahead of the pivotal meeting between Donald Trump and Ukraine's president Zelensky and his EU-leader bodyguards. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals the PM has called a high-powered meeting on energy security this evening. Why does the bike lobby want to get rid of the helmet mandate? Patrick Morgan from the Cycling Action Network explains. Plus, on the Huddle, Trish and Josie debate whether they would go on a working holiday in their 40s.   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.

Financial results are coming in thick and fast. a2 Milk is reporting a 21 percent rise in profit - alongside announcing it bought the Yashili plant in Pokeno. It's also sold its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore - to Open Country Dairy. Contact Energy's profit is up 13-percent, after a surge in geothermal generation, and Freightways' profit is up 12.9 percent. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacks the mood of the markets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mānuka honey exporter Comvita has received a takeover offer from a subsidiary of Christchurch billionaire Mark Stewart’s Masthead Limited - Florenz. It's offering 80 cents a share, equalling $56.4 million. The offer has received unanimous support from Comvita’s board and its two largest shareholders, which own a combined 18.3 percent stake. Oliver Mander from the NZ Shareholders Association explains what this could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So if anything, tonight's meeting at the White House is actually more important than Saturday's meeting was in Alaska - because this is the meeting with Zelenskyy. This is the meeting where the guy who has been invaded has to spell out how much land he is prepared to give up to Putin. And that is a lot harder than what happened in Alaska, which was just Putin laying down his dream scenario. And you can see that the European leaders realize that this is more important, because they're coming with Zelenskyy. You've got Keir Starmer of the UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany and a whole bunch of others - and they're going to be Zelenskyy's hype squad at the White House to try to stop Trump bullying him, which is actually fair enough after what happened last time. But I have to be honest, I find Europe endlessly frustrating over Ukraine. I mean, here they are dropping everything to rush over to Washington with Zelenskyy, to presumably stop Trump from taking too much of Ukraine's lan

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!  There's growing calls to change the working holiday age limit from 30 to 50 to boost tourism. Is this a good idea? Would you go on a working holiday in your 40s?  Volodymyr Zelenskyy - alongside a group of EU leaders - are set to meet with Donald Trump at the White House tomorrow. How do we think this meeting will go?  David Seymour reportedly asked the Ministry for Regulation to look into removing bike helmet requirements. Should we change the rules?  Will any of us be reading Grant Robertson's book? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is defending the Government's move to scrap the Cook Strait mega-ferries - and claimed costs would have blown out on the original project. The Hyundai dockyard contracted to build the boats has received a total $222 million for the canned project, which includes a net $144 million final settlement. $300 million had been provisioned. Nicola Willis says the plans were not progressing well - and they were tied up in all sorts of additional complications.  "There was a very reasonable reality that the port side of the infrastructure would not have been built in time for the ferries to have arrived, and that, therefore, they wouldn't have been able to be used." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accommodation company's pitching for raising the working holiday visa age from 30 to 50. Lylo managing director Tim Alpe wants restrictions eased to attract more people, pointing to the struggle still faced by tourism.  He says lifting the age would provide flexibility for older people keen to try something new. Alpe says it'd have no downside.  "I just think that by limiting it to 30 or 35, we aren't that competitive with Australia and Canada - who are killing it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business spokesperson is encouraging Northland retailers to keep contacting police over smaller crimes.  The Northland Chamber of Commerce says business owners across the region aren't calling in shoplifting because they don't think police will turn up.  But CEO Leah McKerrow explained that even if officers can't respond - the data still goes into the system.  "And while each incidence in its own right feels small, collectively we're starting to get a pattern." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European leaders are flocking to the White House to present an iron-clad defence of Ukraine's interests.  The US is scaling up pressure for the war-battered Ukraine to agree to terms with Russia for ending the war, after this past weekend's Alaska summit.  This could involve ceding territory to Russia, including Crimea - and ending its pursuit of NATO membership.   Ukraine's Ambassador to New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, says NATO would provide security guarantees, and possibly boots on the ground.  He also explained we need to create conventional strategic weapons, other equipment and a strong army to deter Russia from future invasions.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's aiming to lift the burden of covering the costs of defective building work from councils. It plans to replace the consent framework with a scheme making each party only responsible for their share of work. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk claims councils fearing liability for defects are hesitant to sign off on consents and inspections. He says this follows discussions with the sector. "Now we'll be able to get that legislated - and in the meantime, spend time getting that detail right about what those measures should be." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's justifying his noted absence from a global meeting on Ukraine, due to the time difference.  Coalition of the Willing members gathered for virtual talks overnight, to embolden President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a meeting at the White House, for a number of them.  Many leaders attended, including Australia, France and the UK. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon was invited to attend the discussion - and officials joined the call in his place.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One man is dead and another is in hospital with serious wounds following a shooting outside a Sydney pub yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Harold Park hotel on Ross Street in Forest Lodge in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday evening.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says investigations are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second half lapse will go under the microscope for the All Blacks following their 41-24 Rugby Championship win over Argentina in Cordoba. Despite leading 31-10 at the break, New Zealand allowed Los Pumas to score two converted tries and close the gap to seven in a trying 20 minute period and had two yellow cards. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cyclist group says it's worth looking into changing helmet laws, following the release of a new report. Newstalk ZB has revealed the Regulation Ministry has advised its Minister the risks of not requiring the protective measures would outweigh any benefits. David Seymour asked it to look into dumping the rule. Cycling Advocates Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan says Seymour made the wrong call to drop this, as helmets put people off. "If we're trying to solve the problem of inactivity, which we know is killing more than 2,000 people a year in New Zealand, you'd want more people to be active. Anything that's a barrier to cycling - we should look at removing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 15 August 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters speaks to Heather about the eye-watering cost of breaking our ferry contract with Hyundai. Heather gets hot under the collar about the new rules for hospital cafeterias. Can we actually expect a deal to be struck when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet tomorrow? Former chief of staff to Marco Rubio, Matt Terrill, speaks to Heather. Plus, the Sports Huddle takes a punt at the result for the first All Blacks-Argentina test. 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.