Larry Williams Drive

Ian Foster could be out if the All Blacks lose both games in South Africa. An exclusive from the Herald found a meeting between Foster and Mark Robinson and Chris Lendrum, where Foster could go if they don't win one game. One of the changes he laid out in the meeting was axing John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, and bringing in Jason Ryan. Lewis Clareburt just gets better and better. Clareburt won his third medal of the Commonwealth Games with bronze in the 200m medley yesterday. And Eddie Osei-Nketia's coach is calling for a review into Athletics New Zealand selection criteria. It comes as the sprinter missed out on selection for Birmingham, where his coach also thinks he could've medalled. Lavina Good and Matt Brown joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week's sports newsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's pretty high stakes for Ian Foster for the All Blacks in South Africa. If Foster doesn't win at least one game, he's gone. But the question is whether the All Blacks have the capability to turn it around after the series loss to Ireland. Kiwi-born former Springbok Kevin Putt joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The growth of print books is matching the growth of e-books. The latest book industry report shows paperbacks still accounts for 90 percent of the market. Publishers Association of New Zealand president Graham Cosslett told Heather du Plessis-Allan the report covers bookshops and exports. There's also been a growth in Maori language books. “We've seen in the last year a 40 percent year on growth of total unit sales, and that's actually on the back of 24 percent growth the previous year.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi sprinter Eddie Osei-Nketia might've won a Commonwealth Games silver medal if he'd been allowed to go to the Games. This is according to his coach who says Athletics NZ qualification standards are too high. His coach Gary Henley-Smith joined Heather du-Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes will be on Chris Luxon going into his first National Party Conference as party leader. However, it hasn't been a good week for the National Party, with doubts from commentators on his leadership. And the Party President role is up for grabs, with Peter Goodfellow stepping down. It also wasn't a good week for James Shaw. Shaw was the only candidate named for their leadership contest, there are questions over whether he will get past the 75 percent threshold to retain his leadership. Rotorua locals are standing up to their council. More than 3600 submissions have been received on the issue of using motels for emergency housing. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boss of Wellington Water accepts more money's needed to fix the city's pipes. It comes amid reports severe water restrictions could be in force this summer largely due to leaks. That may include total residential outdoor water bans. Colin Crampton told Heather Du Plessis-Allan they're fixing water leaks as quickly as they can - but the number is increasing. He says they need some big cash. “At the moment, our manual budget for operations is about $100 million a year, so it’s going to be in the millions, isn’t it?” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Texas jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than US$4 million ($6.35M) in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Today marks the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for repeatedly claiming the deadliest school shooting in US history was a hoax. The Austin jury must still decide how much the Infowars host must pay in punitive damages to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 children and six educators who were killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. The parents had sought at least US$150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jones' attorney asked the jury to limit damages to $8 — one dollar for each of the compensation charges they are considering — and Jones himself said any award over US$2 million "would sink us". It likely won't be the last judgment against Jones over his claims that the a

The All Blacks head into the first test against South Africa on the back of multiple changes to the team. Caleb Clarke is returning on the pitch, but off the pitch, Jason Ryan has come in to the team with John Plumtree and Brad Mooar out. And in the Commonwealth Games, Tom Walsh has said Jacko Gill may challenge him in the shotput. The Black Sticks Women are also taking on England in the hockey semifinal on the back of the White Ferns and Silver Ferns struggling against England. Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There will be some firefighters on deck to dampen flames when union members strike later this month. All members of the Professional Firefighters Union will walk off the job for an hour on August 19, and again the following week.  They want improved working conditions, better maintenance of equipment and higher wages. Professional Firefighter Union's Wattie Watson told Heather du Plessis-Allan FENZ has contingency plans in place. “So there’ll be very few of the career firefighters to be available. There will be commanders because they’re not generally part of our agreement, and of course, there’s volunteers.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to watch ratepayers completely ignore and defy their council, watch the water drama in Wellington unfold. Wellington - as you know - has major water issues.  There are pipes busting in the centre of the city on a regular basis. On the street that I live, we have a regular leak. It plays out like this: The leak starts. We call the council. Nothing happens. Us neighbours talk to each and decide amongst ourselves to all call the council again. We do. The council sends some guys in high vis vests around, they tow some cars and take a look, they leave.   The water still flows. It gets worse over the next few weeks (yes, weeks) until it’s actually running so fast you could fill a bath in half an hour.   We call the council again, properly angry this time. They come around and finally fix it. But by the time they fix it, we have lost so much of the city’s water it’s infuriating. That’s happened about three times in the last four or five years. That’s just one leak in one street. There have been more than

What's going on with National's tax policy? Labour has been raising questions over whether National is going to stick to the policy of indexing the income tax threshold. National MP Chris Bishop joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to explain. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neale Jones and David Farrar joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The Huddle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just one Accredited Employer Work Visa has been processed in the month since the category opened. The National Party has got hold of a leaked Immigration New Zealand paper, and the Party's calling the log-jam disastrous. Applicants must submit a job-check to obtain the visa - showing the employer couldn't fill the role with a New Zealand worker. Since job-checks opened six weeks ago, three-thousand-321 have been submitted, but just 817 approved. Managing Director of Building Recruitment, Kevin Everett joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government hopes the Commerce Commission drafts report on building supplies will be the first step towards greater competition. It's found it's too difficult for innovative products to enter the market and expand their share of it. Submissions from the public will be open until September, the final report will be delivered in December. Housing Minister Megan Woods says it's the beginning of a longer process. She says it would be inappropriate for the Government to make any changes without more information. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A counter-protest supporting democracy is planned to go head-to-head with a rally led by Brian Tamaki's Freedoms & Rights Coalition in Auckland this weekend. Counter protest organiser Mark Graham said it was a spur of the moment decision to show up and "save the nation's democracy". "The coalition and Brian Tamaki are not calling for freedom and rights, they want things to be done the way they want. That's just selfish. "He is throwing a tantrum because he is not getting what he wants. This is not democratic." Graham said their group was building in numbers since last night's decision to head to Auckland Domain on Saturday. "It is an important issue for us. We do not like what the coalition is doing, it is just not right. "We hope more people will show up to save our nation's democracy." Police have confirmed they are in talks with organisers of this weekend's anti-Government protest in and around Auckland Domain, which organisers threaten will be "impactive". A police spokesperson said they were discussi

The Department of Conservation has been forced to issue a warning to visitors to national parks after staff found Aucklanders carrying pet cats up Mt Taranaki in backpacks. The extraordinary alert was prompted by a bizarre feline incident but a spokesman said cats are not the only animals straying into some of our most pristine wilderness. DoC senior ranger Dave Rogers said staff saw the cats, who were rugged up against the cold in their own little jackets, being loaded into backpacks in a car park at Egmont National Park. "Cats and all other domestic animals are not allowed in the National Park as they pose a threat to endangered birds such as kiwi and whio, and other native species including geckos and insects," Rogers said. When approached, the owners, who were visiting from Auckland, said they weren't aware of the rules, which prohibit pets in the National Park. Photo / DOC "Bringing a pet into the park may seem a harmless thing to do," Rogers added, noting that dogs, rabbits and even a parrot have been

Newstalk ZB Political Editor joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. On the agenda was the cost of living payment, today's unemployment figure and Nanaia Mahuta copping criticism over claims councils will continue to own infrastructure in the Three Waters reform. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We now have a got a long-term strategy on how New Zealand will deal with the impacts of climate change. It says climate resilience will be embedded in all government policies from now on. It talks about how entire towns and communities will likely need to abandoned due to climate change - and laws on how to guide that will need to be in place by the end of next year. Questions have been asked as to who will be fronting the bill for the new policy. Climate Change Minister James Shaw joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has found that gambling is more common in New Zealand’s most deprived communities. According to DOT Loves Data, the poorest ten percent of the country spend almost three times as much on gambling as the richest ten per cent. Pokie machines are also almost ten times as common in deprived areas, and the Problem Gambling Foundation says this causes a lot of harm. Peter Dengate-Thrush is the chairman of the Gaming Machine Association, he joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meeting leaders in Taiwan despite warnings from China, said Wednesday that she and other members of Congress in a visiting delegation are showing they will not abandon their commitment to the self-governing island. "Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy," she said in a short speech during a meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. "America's determination to preserve democracy, here in Taiwan and around the world, remains ironclad." China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any engagement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments, announced multiple military exercises around the island and issued a series of harsh statements after the delegation touched down in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Tuesday night. Pelosi's trip has heightened U.S.-China tensions more than visits by other members of Congress because of her high-level position as leader of the House of Representatives. She is the first speaker of the house to come to