Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 13 September 2024, the public sector has been told to prioritise need over ethnicity. Public service Minister Nicola Willis tells Heather why the directive is needed.  Donald Trump won't debate Kamala Harris again. A Republican strategist reckons it's a good call.  Turns out teachers at a South Auckland school have been eating students free lunches - leaving the students hungry!  Super Rugby boss Jack Mesley tells Heather why the new Super Rugby playoff rules are a game changer and the Sports Huddle weighs in.  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.

Host of the All Sport Breakfast Wellington, Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joins the Sports Huddle to discuss the new Super Rugby finals format, Black Caps v Afghanistan controversy, and the Black Ferns hugging King Charles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses on Wellington’s Thorndon Quay look set to receive $1500 to help them stay afloat during ongoing roadworks and disturbances.  Wellington Council voted in favour of investigating whether to give businesses this “micro-grant” but the mayor has stressed it is not compensation.  Chairman of Thorndon Quay Collective Paul Robinson tells Heather du Plessis-Allan losses are in the millions for businesses on Thorndon Quay and the $1500 grant will not help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes are coming to Super Rugby Pacific.  The competition has gone from 12 teams to 11 with the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels and in 2025, will move to a six-team playoff format.  All six teams who qualify for the post-season will feature in the quarterfinals, with the three winners and the highest-seeded loser making up the four teams in the semifinals.  That lucky loser will drop one seeding for the semifinals, which means the top seed after round-robin play is guaranteed a home semifinal.  New Super Rugby chief executive Jack Mesley tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the new format will bring a lot of interest.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from Trade Me suggests 59% of kiwis are “dream scrolling” - scrolling through property listings out of their price range.  38% would rather do it than watch rugby, and 12% would even prefer it over sex.  Property commentator Ashley Church tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the dream scrolling is driven by escapism.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has ruled out another Presidential debate ahead of the US election in November.  Both Trump and opponent Kamala Harris claimed victory following the debate this week, but polls suggest Harris performed better.   In election polls, the candidates are neck and neck.  Republican strategist Amy Tarkanian tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that another mishap could result in Trump losing those who are still wavering in the centre.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has issued a directive to all central Government organisations, to prioritise public services on the basis of need rather than ethnicity or other forms of personal identity.  Government contracts will also be awarded on the basis of public value, removing the previous Government’s target for 8% of Government agencies annual contracts to be awarded to Māori businesses.  Minister of Finance and Public Service Nicola Willis tells Heather du Plessis-Allan real analytical rigour is needed for services that want to target specifically based on personal identity.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabinet has issued a circular laying out expectations that public services should be delivered based on “the needs of all New Zealanders”, fulfilling a coalition agreement secured by Act and New Zealand First that “need” should be prioritised over “race”.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper tells Heather du Plessis-Allan this should have been the case all along, but unfortunately, hasn’t been.  Meanwhile, teachers are allegedly eating free school lunches and leaving students without.   And, the Waitangi Tribunal has accused the Government of breaching the Treaty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has ruled out another presidential debate against rival Kamala Harris before November’s election.  Both Trump and Harris claimed victory after the debate this week. Polls indicate the candidates are neck and neck ahead of the election, but that Harris performed better than her Republican opponent in the debate.  Harris responded that voters are owed another debate.  Harris’ team are trying to downplay any lead, while the race remains so close.  Meanwhile, studies show more women are choosing to have their tubes tied since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that the biggest increases are being seen in the states that ban abortion.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children are allegedly missing out on free school lunches because staff are eating them first.  A parent of students at Tuakau College says her children have missed out for a month, coming home hungry. The students were also denied access to a phone to request their mother bring them food.  Associate Education Minister David Seymour says he has asked the Ministry of Education to investigate.  Secondary Principals Association President Vaughan Couillault tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the lunch program has a level of trust involved due to its scale and that teachers may have misinterpreted how it functions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to propose significant reform for the NHS. A new report revealed ballooning wait times, delays in getting urgent medical treatment and cancer care and rising costs are harming public health - and costing lives. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Starmer claims the health system needs 'major surgery'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some experts believe huhu grub faming could be the way of the future. Huhu grubs are being touted as an alternative protein source that could solve food security issues - and potentially help the nation's forestry slash problems. The Country's Jamie Mackay says there's a history of huhu consumption in New Zealand, with Māori confirming the grubs are safe for consumption.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some experts believe huhu grub faming could be the way of the future. Huhu grubs are being touted as an alternative protein source that could solve food security issues - and potentially help the nation's forestry slash problems. The Country's Jamie Mackay says there's a history of huhu consumption in New Zealand, with Māori confirming the grubs are safe for consumption.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chocolate, olive oil, butter and takeaway meals have been blamed for pushing up food price inflation in August, according to new reports. Fresh fruit and vegetable prices kept falling, down 12 percent. Falling kūmara, potatoes, and lettuce prices led the way. Potatoes are now the cheapest they’ve been in three years. NZ Herald business editor at large explains the factors driving this data. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G.J. Gardner, New Zealand’s largest franchised group house-building business and biggest residential builder, is planning to expand further. The business is aiming for a 30 percent growth in franchise numbers in the next year, according to new reports. G.J. Gardner's Grant Porteous says there'll always be demand for housing - even during economic downturns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stage is set for the first ever all-civilian commercial spacewalk. Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, alongside a a pair of SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force pilot blasted off earlier this week - and if all goes well, the walk will take place in a few hours. Stardome astronomer Josh Eoraki explains that space is an inhospitable environment for humans - meaning the crew is carrying out a risky mission.  "There's no air, you'll suffocate - it's extremely hot if you're in the sun and it's freezing if you're in the shadows. It's just the most inhospitable environment for humans." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump dominated the post-debate discussion with his outlandish statements about immigrants, abortion and the economy. Will the 'cats and dogs' and 'transgender operations' comments hurt his campaign - or do supporters not care? Can Health NZ achieve its targets with no extra money on hand? Auckland mayor Wayne Brown unveiled his plan for a second harbour crossing - does this scheme have legs or is it totally bonkers. Zara and Mike Tindall raised a few eyebrows over their decision to put Apple AirTags on their kids to track them. Is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 12 September 2024, how will Health NZ actually slash waiting lists and improve cancer care? Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Connolly tells Heather about the plan to hit the Government's health targets. What's behind Donald Trump's claim that immigrants in Ohio are eating cats and dogs? 1News US correspondent Logan Church took a deep dive into the facts. An expert weighs in on Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's plan to build another harbour bridge between Pt Chevalier and the North Shore. Plus the Huddle debates if it's ever okay to put an air tag on your kids. 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.

Tech giant Google is being accused of playing hardball with the Government and media companies over the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. The bill would force Google to pay for the journalism and news content that help drive its business model. NZME editor-at-large Shayne Currie says it's unlikely Google will pull away from New Zealand altogether - despite the company's threats. "They will certainly be reviewing their stance - they've actually said publicly in their submission to Parliament for the Fair Digital News Bill that they will need to review operations in New Zealand if the bill goes ahead." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About this debate in Australia on banning social media for kids - I have just come across an article that makes the best comparison yet for how we should deal with this issue. Treat it like sex. This article is by an academic in Australia and she argues that the best way to protect kids from social media is by teaching them its dangers, like we do with sex. I think we know now that banning sex for teens doesn't work, celibacy all the way through to marriage doesn’t work - and the best way to deal with it is with sex education. We teach kids how the whole thing works, we teach them how to be safe, and most kids actually do end up fine. That, she says, is how we should treat social media. Teach the kids how it works, teach them about the algorithms that push information at you, teach them that if you click something you’ll get more of the same, teach them how the perfect model lying by the pool with her perfect boyfriend on the perfect holiday is just a photo and it's not real. And teach them how to be safe, te