Larry Williams Drive

New reports out of the UK claim Prime Minister Keir Starmer is looking to blame Nigel Farage and Brexit for tax rises in the upcoming November budget. The UK has a significant financial black hole it needs to fill up, and it's looking more likely that increased taxes are the way forward. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unlikely UK voters will accept this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer and political commentator Brigitte Morton and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New data shows one in seven Kiwis believe violence is needed to get the country back on track. How worrying is this data? The hostages and prisoners have been freed in Gaza - why aren't more people celebrating? Do we need to give Donald Trump more credit for what appears to be - for now - peace in the Middle East? Are the latest dramas involving Te Pāti Māori (allegations of MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi overspending its budget, allegations that Eru Kapa-Kingi verbally abused Parliamentary security staff) a sign of a party that shouldn't be in power? What do we make of all this? New data shows more Kiwis are moving to Australia. Should we be concerned about the ongoing brain drain? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports indicate the Reserve Bank of Australia won't be cutting interest rates until at least February 2026. Employment remains high and inflation is still at target, and experts claim the central bank has no reason to do anything big. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 14 October 2025, former Australian army officer and Middle East expert Rodger Shanahan on peace in Gaza - and how much credit Donald Trump deserves. The implosion continues at the Maori Party with fiery allegations sent out against their own MP in a late night email. Integrity Institute director Bryce Edwards says it's an extraordinary move. Air NZ is making a long-awaited change to regional flights - Chief Transformation and Alliances Officer Mike Williams explains what's taken them so long. Wayne Naylor from  Hospice NZ explains why NZ gets only 3 from 5 stars as a place to die. Plus, the Huddle debates a new poll that found 1 in 7 people think it's okay to use violence as a means to get the country back on track. 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.

New Zealand First has started to voice concerns over the proposed  Gene Technology Bill, breaking away from fellow coalition partners. NZ First claimed it wouldn't support the current bill - unless National agreed to some significant changes.  The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's teamed up with Air Chathams on a new partnership for Whakatane. It'll mean customers can book single-ticket trips that combine domestic flights on both airlines. Checked-in baggage will be transferred directly to the final destination. Air New Zealand's Chief Transformation and Alliances Officer, Mike Williams, explained what the partnership could mean for both airlines. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, what happened last night is remarkable. Before the deadline of 10pm New Zealand time, 20 living Israeli hostages - who had been held for 2 years, who had been forced in some cases to dig their own graves, spend unknown lengths of time in tunnels underground, and go without much in the way of sustenance at times - were handed over by their captors back into the care of Israel, which is their home. That is remarkable. Because, I mean, let's be honest about it - in the last two years, there were times where surely we started to believe that we'd seen the last of the survivors make it out. Surely, we'd assumed most, if not all, of the remaining 20 would die in captivity in the years that we may have thought stretched ahead of us. But look at what's happened, aid is now flowing back into Gaza, people are going back to their homes - whatever is left of it - and the shelling has stopped. You would think this would be a moment to celebrate, right? The very thing that so many of us have been calling for

There's real concern from a former Green MP over how openly people talk about committing violence.  A new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll shows one in four Te Pāti Māori voters and one in five ACT voters agree Kiwis may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track.  The younger generation are more likely to agree, and they're less likely to have friends with differing political views.  Catherine Delahunty says understanding the causes is important.  "I think it's a sign of deepening inequality right now, that some people are really, really frustrated and feel really excluded from our society." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders who are dying, or caring for someone who's on their deathbed, have been leaving reviews rating their experience with death in Aotearoa.  In a new initiative led by Hospice NZ, Dying Reviews invites people who've had experience with death to reflect how they were treated by the everyday systems that surround us. New Zealand's national score is 3.28 out of 5, and Government agencies received the lowest ratings of any sector (2.5), while restaurants and events were the top scorers (4.55). Hospice NZ CEO Wayne Naylor unpacked the reviews - and all the variables impacting the scores. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's suggestions of a deep divide within Te Pāti Māori. The Party's released documents to members alleging former vice president Eru Kapa-Kingi threatened parliamentary staff and made inappropriate remarks.  He's the son of recently demoted Party Whip, MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.  Papers also showed Parliamentary Services were concerned she risked overspending her office budget.  Political commentator Bryce Edwards says there are obviously factions.  "This is from the leadership against the MPs in question, so this is a bit of a meltdown." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's signs peace could persist in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump declares the war over. Hamas has released the 20 living Israeli hostages - and almost 2000 Palestinians have been returned by Israel. Leaders including Donald Trump have signed the US-brokered peace deal, at a summit in Egypt. Middle East analyst Rodger Shanahan says after two years, there's a sense of exhaustion from Israel and Hamas. "Both sides really want to go back to their corners and take stock about the next steps." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament's Speaker will meet MPs across the House today, as he cracks down on behaviour.  Gerry Brownlee's spoken about Te Pati Māori's newest MP,  Oriini Kaipara, going over-time in her maiden speech on Thursday, and joining a haka that started in the public gallery.  He now says he'll convene Parliament's Business Committee to discuss dress standards, attendance records, leave, and the allocation of questions.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says last week's rule-breaking from Oriini Kaipara was the straw that broke the camel's back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mobile numbers of Anthony Albanese, Sussan Ley and other prominent Australians were recently released to the public on a free website. The US-based website sells itself on having the mobile numbers and emails of millions of professionals, and investigations are ongoing into the platform. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says other world leaders reportedly have their contact information on the website, including US President Donald Trump. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another blow for Netball New Zealand in the wake of their unresolved coaching saga with Dame Noeline Taurua. Silver Ferns selector Gail Parata has resigned after becoming frustrated at the way the governing body has treated the World Cup-winning mentor - and claimed Taurua hadn't been properly protected. Parata said that many in the coaching community beyond netball have been left disheartened and disillusioned. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to lending restrictions are on the cards. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is welcoming the Reserve Bank consulting with banks on easing loan to value restrictions from December. The central bank's looking at increasing the new lending limit for first-home buyers and property investors. Banking Association CEO Roger Beaumont says this is really good - and will give first-home buyers more flexibility. "They're taking advantage of what I'd call the 'sweet spot' of softer house prices, combined with declining interest rates." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just arrived in Gaza to sign off on the latest peace deal. Starmer is one of approximately 20 world leaders set to attend a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in the coming hours. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the UK Government is set to play a key role in the peace deal, with more details to be revealed soon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner recently penned an opinion piece in defence of DEI amid ongoing concerns about the measures. Winston Peters and Judith Collins have taken aim against these policies, with Collins aiming to remove diversity requirements from the Public Service Act. Gail Pacheco revealed how DEI standards can boost productivity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building's issued a gloomy trading update, marked with trading slumps, market falls and low sales volumes. The company's now aiming for a further $100 million dollars in cost cuts. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Richard Hills and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day! The local body elections wrapped up over the weekend and turnout has been labelled 'abysmal'. Does the system need to be changed to encourage more people to vote? The latest numbers show structured literacy seems to be making a huge difference to our youngest readers. Are we pleased with Erica Stanford's solution? New mums are set to get a three-day stay in hospital after having a baby. Is this a good move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen, I am more and more convinced that we need to cut the number of councils we have across the country. I mean, that voter turnout that we've seen at the weekend was abysmal. Last count I've seen is that nationally, only 38 percent of us voted. It's worse in Auckland, where only around 29 percent -  so not even 1 in 3 of us - voted. Now, I think anyone who thinks that we can fix local Government by ditching the postal vote system and going hard with the orange guy and his dog is dreaming. Because that is not the problem. The problem is not how you vote, the problem is who you vote for. I think we have a complete breakdown in the trust between the voter and the people that we are voting for and the authority in general. I mean, you've opened your booklet, right? Surely, you've had a look at who you had to vote for. It's overpopulated by people you wouldn't trust to mind your pet, never mind run the council. You don't actually believe that these people are going to make smart decisions,