Larry Williams Drive

Many of New Zealand's biggest musicians are boycotting Spotify and ditching the platform amid accusations of exploitation. Tiki Taane and The Bats are among the big names getting behind Boycott Spotify NZ and other Kiwi bands like Carb on Carb, Synthetic Children and Recitals have signed the statement calling for better treatment.  Taane has cited greed, corruption and investment in European defence technology company Helsing as some of the key reasons why he's walking away. "I love music, I love creating music, but I also have to take a stand against corruption, against greed, against war, against murder - the easiest thing for me to do to help support that is to take my music off the platform and cancel my subscription."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There could be more cases of judges handing back seized gang patches to gang members convicted of wearing them in public.  Law professor Al Gillespie says the law allows discretion for judge, and they'll use it.  This week, a judge ordered police give back a patch seized from a Lower Hutt gang member.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell calls the decision disappointing and confirmed police are appealing. But Gillespie says the judge was within his rights to make the decision.  "We could see more, I think that's quite possible. And if you do disagree with it, that's fine - but change the law." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Keisha Castle-Hughes is getting behind a push to change citizenship access for Māori born overseas.  The Waitangi Tribunal's considering a claim by Australian born John Ruddock, which calls the fact his children can't get citizenship, unconstitutional. Ruddock, who's descended from a Treaty of Waitangi signatory, has citizenship by descent.  Castle-Hughes she has given evidence, after she struggled to get citizenship for her own daughter. "Aotearoa is the only place that she can go to kura kaupapa, that she can go to kohanga reo, that she can participate in life as a tangata whenua in that capacity." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security analyst's surprised the Chinese Embassy is taking such issue to one of its citizens being searched. It says a Chinese citizen was subject to an interrogation and harassment at a New Zealand airport - with their personal devices taken away. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the embassy's statement is no risk to the NZ-China relationship. Security analyst John Battersby says there's some surface level tension on display. He says it does follow a threat environment report highlighting China, which it disputed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New GDP figures are set to be unveiled tomorrow, and there's concerns from experts that the economy is struggling. The upcoming GDP data is projected to show an economy under pressure, as earlier forecasts of an incoming rebound look less and less likely. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Finance Minister is trying to soften the blow and put things in perspective. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Kirk's murder accused allegedly told his roommate about the fatal shooting. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is facing seven charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. US prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. US correspondent Charles Feldman says Robinson exchanged a series of texts and left a note for his roommate reportedly confessing to the murder. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The return of Cam Roigard from a foot fracture headlines 13 players released by the All Blacks to NPC duty this weekend. Roigard hasn't played since the second test against France in Wellington in July. He'll come off the bench for Counties-Manukau as they face Auckland on Saturday in Pukekohe, with the visitors from the other side of the Bombays facing an injury crisis and delaying their official team naming. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has landed in the UK for his second state visit. The US president and the first lady, Melania Trump, were greeted UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and royal representatives at Stansted Airport, before being transported to Windsor Castle to meet King and Queen. British historian and biographer Robert Lacey says Trump is expected to take part in a significant series of events over the next couple of days. "Donald Trump's mother was Scottish, he's got this sentimental fondness for the monarchy and Britain's using that, frankly, as part of our modern soft power." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump is set to make his second state visit to the UK, and he's due to arrive in a matter of hours. Trump is expected to visit Windsor Castle and Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country home. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the pressures on for Starmer to secure a better trade deal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog's David Farrar and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Māori Party president John Tamihere has backed up Tākuta Ferris, saying the substance of his controversial race comments is right.. and it's "wrong for other folk to politic in Maori seats". What do we make of this? A new poll shows more Kiwi voters are blaming the current state of the economy on the current coalition Government. Should they be worried about this? Do we care where our peaches come from?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Herrick from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns over Environment Southland’s 'heavy-handed' approach to compliance. Herrick says these standards are creating unprecedented stress and financial pressure for farmers. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concern South Waikato's Tokoroa is facing another factory closure, with more than 100 jobs on the chopping block. Carter Holt Harvey is looking at closing its plywood manufacturing plant, the company has told staff. South Waikato mayor Gary Petley says he doesn't know all the details, but it's another blow for the region. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The influence of the New Zealand-made label appears to be decreasing as more consumers prioritise price.  Wattie's is ending some of its contracts with Hawke's Bay peach growers and says more people are choosing imported alternatives.  It says the demand for New Zealand-grown peaches has seen a steady decline in recent years. Consumer NZ Acting Head of Research and Advocacy Jessica Walker says less and less consumers are prioritising locally-sourced products. "At the same time, we're seeing concerns about price, cost of food and groceries ratchet up...more people are cutting back on fruit and veg altogether, so I'm not surprised." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First of all, can I start by offering an apology to TVNZ? I gave them a bit of grief last night for starting the news bulletin with the peaches, but it turns out I was wrong and they were right. This has sparked a flurry of debate over whether we prefer our Wattie's peaches from Hawke's Bay or whether we don't really care if it comes from China or not.  It's also prompted a statement from Wattie's asking us to support local growers. In other words, can we please buy New Zealand made? Now, that is a very nice sentiment, but let's be honest, that's all it is. It is a sentiment and it's not going to work. I mean, this is me, this is not me being cavalier about how hard this must be for the Hawke's Bay peach growers who are losing their Wattie's contracts. For them, this must be absolutely devastating and I feel terrible for them. But this is me being realistic about the prospect of any 'Buy New Zealand Made' campaign working. Wattie's New Zealand peaches, according to Pak’nSave's online

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 16 September 2025, Labour leader Chris Hipkins on a new poll that shows just how many Kiwis are blaming the current Government for the state of the economy - and how many still blame Labour. Peachgate: Consumer's Jessica Walker says the cost of living has got so high that people can't afford to make buying NZ grown a priority. Adoption researcher Dr Barbara Sumner welcomes news that overseas adoptions have been stopped with immediate effect. Former Maori Party leader Te Ururoa Flavell weighs in on Takuta Ferris' anti-immigrant comments. Plus, the Huddle debates whether National should be worried about copping the lion's share of blame for the economy. 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 former Māori Party leader says he can't make sense of MP Tākuta Ferris' controversial race comments. Ferris posted a photo of Labour volunteers stating their ethnicities and wrote they were campaigning to take a Māori seat from Māori in the Tamaki Makaurau by-election. The party apologised, but Ferris stood by his comments in a second social media video.  Te Ururoa Flavell says the party has a history of inclusivity and explained many of their candidates in the general sense weren't Māori - being Pasifika, Chinese and Korean. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says Kiwis are starting to see things are going backwards under the current Government.  The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll reveals more voters blame the coalition for the struggling economy, than the previous Labour Government. This is despite senior Cabinet Ministers claiming a financial mess was left behind by Labour. Hipkins says Labour will set out ways it could improve the economy, but right now the ball's in the Government's court. "We've got to get New Zealand investing in productive businesses, rather than just relying on the housing market going up in value in order to grow our economy."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruapehu's mayor is hoping to reach out to investors to save the historic Chateau Tongariro. A petition with over 15,000 signatures was presented to MPs in Wellington today, as the chateau's future hangs in the balance. Weston Kirton says he wants the Government to break down the barriers preventing the building from getting fixed and provide a pathway for the future. "We know that there are investors out there who are prepared to put forward their money towards this. We're not talking about taxpayers funding this project, we're talking about getting a platform for investors."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geordie Beamish has won the 3000 metres steeplechase at the world championships in Tokyo, making history in New Zealand track.  He's the first Kiwi to secure a running victory in the 42-year history of the meet. Athletics NZ chief executive Cam Mitchell was present at the race - and says he believed Beamish had it in him.  "It was a pretty special night, it was amazing to be there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders will no longer be able to look to adopt children from overseas and bring them home from this week.  The Government's Adoption Amendment Bill's been introduced under urgency, and will suspend recognition of unsafe international adoptions to prevent harm.  It also restricts the Family Court from granting adoptions where the adoptive parent or child are overseas. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the bill - and reveals why the changes are the way to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.