Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 13 October 2025, the last of the Israeli hostages are being released today in a momentous day for Gaza. Israel correspondent Alexander Cornwell speaks to Heather ahead of Donald Trump's arrival to Jerusalem. The Education Minister says "I told you so!" after literacy stats show the structured literacy approach she mandated across the country is already lifting reading rates for our youngest school kids. Heather reckons we need a fundamental change to local body elections after an abysmal turnout over the weekend. Plus, the Huddle debates literacy, local politics and longer hospital stays for new mums. 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.

Participation in local elections is at a historic low and there's growing calls for reform. Turnout's been higher in rural areas and much lower in the main cities, but data shows under 40 percent of eligible voters made their voices heard. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a simpler solution is needed, much like the general elections. "It might be simpler if it was just - turn up and vote. Turn up to the booth, turn up to the place just as you do for the general Government elections." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamas is expected to start releasing Israeli hostages now. It's handing over 20 hostages over the next two hours - followed by Israel handing over nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.  The US president is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv very soon, and claims the war is over in Gaza and the ceasefire will hold. Reuters correspondent Alexander Cornwell says people could start arriving very soon - and that the Red Cross will be there to collect them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment from some after a majority of Māori wards are set to go.  17 councils have voted to keep them, and 25 have voted to remove them Whakatane Māori Ward councillor Toni Boynton says those referendums should never have been held. She says this choice should be up to councils. "If they're elected by their constituents, that's democracy, right? And they're elected to be able to make those decisions and that decision was taken away from them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence New Zealand schools are turning a corner on literacy skills. The Education Minister says data shows 58 percent of new entrant students are at-or-above phonics expectations after 20 weeks at school - up from 36 percent in Term One. The number exceeding expectations is more than double Term One's figure. Erica Stanford says she wants 90 percent of kids to achieve curriculum level. "As teachers become more confident and capable with explicit teaching and the new curriculum and structured literacy, the results will get better and better and better...we see that overseas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IRD is set to be cracking down harder on those who don't pay their taxes properly, and they've unveiled new measures for people who ignore correspondence. The department will start taking money out of people's bank accounts if they owe over a certain amount - and they've recovered at least $17 million so far. The IRD's Tony Morris says they aim to phone people at least twice before they start directly taking money out of accounts. "Other times, we might just contact people once or twice and then take money out of their accounts so they don't squander it."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica Stanford believes mandated structured literacy is turning reading and writing skills around. The Education Minister's revealed new data showing 58 percent of students are at or above phonics expectations after 20 weeks at school - up from 36 percent in Term One. The number exceeding expectations is more than double Term One's figure. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this data shows the Government's education plan is working. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government has backed down on its controversial superannuation tax plan, following long-running criticism from key industries. Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the surprise decision today, one week after Prime Minister Albanese claimed the plan was going to remain unchanged.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says these changes have been met with support from Australians. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has defended the lack of fresh faces in the 36-strong squad for the upcoming Grand Slam tour. There's just one new cap in prop Tevita Mafileo and only one player - hooker George Bell - didn't appear in the Rugby Championship squad. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A climate expert has claimed the Government's reduced methane targets are 'unambitious'. The goal for 2050 has been slashed to a range of 14-to-24 percent below 2017 levels - about half the former target. Agricultural methane emissions won't be taxed. Victoria University's Nathanael Melia says by investing more into research, New Zealand could have aimed for higher. "We're using brand new science and brand new thinking to find out what we should do with our unique makeup to do these sorts of things. We're being a leader here and I think the Government could have been a bit more of a leader." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 10 October 2025, Israeli hostages will return home and aid will be delivered into Gaza within days after Israel's Government has signed off on a peace deal. Heather asks Israel's Ambassador Alon Roth whether this paves the way for a Palestinian state. Kiwi flotilla protestor Samuel Leason speaks to Heather after touching down again in New Zealand after being arrested by Israel. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the Government is breaking its asset sales promise. The Government is looking to sell off an investment in Chorus worth $700 million. New Zealanders are throwing away over 120 thousand tonnes of food every year .. and a new food rescue app is hoping to change that. Gone Good founder Tim Robinson explains how you can get your hands on heavily discounted cafe and bakery goods. Plus, the Sports Huddle ponders how much longer the Noeline Taurua saga will carry on - and does F1 show too many driver girlfriends instead of the track action? Ge

Yeah, so it's weird that it takes a princess to warn us about this, but Kate Middleton has warned parents against phones at the dinner table. She's written an essay in collaboration with a Harvard Medical School professor about the dangers of smartphones and social media eroding family connections. She says, when we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners or respond to emails while playing with our children, we're not just being distracted — we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires. And she then goes on to say, families must, quote, protect sacred spaces for genuine connection: family dinners, conversations, moments of genuine eye contact and engaged listening. Now, some in our office today have accused her of being milquetoast and picking the most boring subject in the world to take on. But isn't she actually on to something incredibly important here? The family unit is the most fundamental and important part of society, and tea

China’s hotels are taking a hit, as a struggling economy hurts domestic spending.   China’s economy has been in decline for the past 4 years, and now budget hotels are having to slash their prices despite being full.  Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this is partly due to unemployment rates, with 1 in 5 Chinese people under the age of 24 being unemployed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three New Zealanders detained by Israel last week, have returned home. Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Samuel Leason were in an aid flotilla to Gaza, intercepted by Israel's military in the Mediterranean. They were among hundreds from around the world, attempting to deliver food and medical supplies. Leason told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he's hoping the ceasefire announced yesterday, will hold.  He says he wants what's best for the people of Gaza.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle: Rugby commentator Paul Ellison and NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave join Ryan Bridge to discuss the latest sports news.  The story around Dame Noeline Taurua and her suspension continues, will there be an end to this drama? Why is TV coverage of F1  focusing on the celebrities, not the racing? And has progressiveness come at the cost of good refereeing?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for a Government crackdown on some temporary pools, after five deaths in the past decade. Coroner Heidi Wrigley's reviewed the death of 20-month-old Aromaia Duff in Napier in 2023, after being found face down in a backyard pool. Wrigley says her death reaffirms concerns a pattern's emerging of drownings in such pools. Acting Water Safety NZ CEO Gavin Walker told Heather du Plessis Allan that the issue isn't paddling pools - or much larger ones. He says the problem is more with waist deep, medium-size pools about three metres across - which have proliferated. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour claims a promise isn't being kept - as the Government mulls selling its stake in Chorus.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis today said the Government's considering selling the 61 percent stake in the telecoms infrastructure company - now rollout of ultra-fast broadband is complete.  She says the money from a sale would be spent on hospitals and schools.  But Chris Hipkins told Heather du-Plessis Allan that they've broken their word.  He says National promised no asset sales - and this would fall into that category.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel's counting down the days to Hamas releasing hostages.   Israel's Cabinet's signed off on a ceasefire deal for their return, as well as Israeli troops pulling back - and an end to hostilities.   Ambassador to New Zealand, Alon Roth says hostages could be freed as soon as Monday.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan Israel's army is starting to uphold its part of the bargain.   Roth says they are starting to pull back, which should take about 24 hours.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kiwis on board the humanitarian aid flotilla set for Gaza have returned to New Zealand.  Three people arrived in Auckland airport, describing the poor conditions they were kept in and said they received little support from the NZ government.   Senior political respondent Barry Soper says that this contradicts what the government has said about the situation.   'I remember Winston said that our MFAT people would have been working to ensure that these people would receive safe passage out of Israel.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealander’s are throwing away over 120,000 tonnes of food every year, and a new food rescue app is hoping to change that.  ‘Gone Good’ lets customers buy mystery bags of unsold food from cafes and bakeries to help reduce food waste.  Deliver Easy CEO Tim Robinson told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, 'the mystery idea is a bit of fun, but also make sure that we're truly targeting the food waste side.’  He said that the bags will have a vague description, so customers know roughly what they’re getting.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.