Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 31 May 2024, a shock conviction for Donald Trump! Republican strategist and former George W Bush adivser Scott Jennings reacts to the former president's guilty verdict. Is he going to jail? Will this help his re-election chances?    Some rare good economic news as the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter commits to staying in operation for the next 20 years.  TVNZ's dire financial situation just got worse, the company staring at potentially big payouts to former employees after the latest Employment Court Ruling.  Plus, the Huddle debates whether the rugby community is at war after yesterday's crucial vote.  Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been moved from hospital, two weeks after being seriously wounded in an assassination attempt.  Fico has served as prime minister for more than 10 of the last 18 years - returning to power last September, leading a populist-nationalist coalition.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Heather du Plessis-Allan “He’s not out of the woods yet - he was shot several times, undergoing a number of operations.”  Grey said “Slovakia is really polarised at the moment – the attack has deepened tensions.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's Budget centrepiece has passed in the House - and tax cuts will become law.   By shifting income tax brackets, it will give earners earning more than $14,000 dollars an extra $4-$40 a fortnight.   Senior Political Correspondent Bary Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “We’ve seen nothing like it in 14 years – since the tax brackets were last moved.”  Soper said they should have been moved gradually over the years, as they don't catch up for where they would’ve been.   LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park hopes to be Auckland’s frugal stadium option.   Proposals for ‘Eden Park 2.0’ and a brand-new stadium at Quay Park will undergo a feasibility study.  Eden Park CEO, Nick Sautner told Heather du Plessis-Allan “We can introduce a whole range of new activities – from boxing, UFC to religious festivals.”  Sautner said the government invests in Eden Park for events of naitonal significance.   LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's another $1.2 billion for the Regional Infrastructure Fund - to support regional economies.  It’s also allocating $2.7-billion package for roads, rail and public transport. The package includes a billion-dollars to speed up Roads of National Significance construction, 940-million to repair weather-damaged roads and an investment in rail networks.  Regional Development Minister Shane Jones told Heather du Plessis-Allan this will be different from the Provincial Growth Fund.  Jones says “We’re driven by common sense.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local businesses are thrilled a 20-year deal's been struck with the Tiwai Point Aluminum Smelter.  The deal was signed with three energy companies - guaranteeing supply to New Zealand Aluminum Smelters until 2044.   It brings certainty to hundreds of plant workers, and thousands in related jobs.  Southland Business Chamber CEO Sharee Carey told Heather du Plessis-Allan “When you’ve got both sides coming to the party for a good deal - you get that commitment to the region, which is fantastic for us.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Employment Court has rejected an appeal by state broadcaster TVNZ, over how it handled staff job cuts.  E tū union alleged the broadcaster hadn't upheld a clause in its collective agreement - which vowed to support staff taking part in changes to workplace practice.  E tū Negotiator Michael Wood told Heather du Plessis-Allan “It’s a very significant ruing – it makes it clear TVNZ broke the agreement they had with staff.”  Wood said “It also means staff that were made redundant now have a very strong case to take significant personal grievances.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to former porn star, Stormy Daniels.  He’s the first former US president to ever be convicted of a crime.   Republican Commentator and former advisor to George W. Bush, Scott Jennings, told Heather du Plessis-Allan “He’s not a violent offender, he doesn’t have a criminal record – it's highly unlikely he’ll get jail time.”  Jennings said “Our constitution is very lean on qualifications to be president – you've got to be 35 years old and a natural citizen.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party has suggested its supporters donate their tax cuts.  The request was sent in an email by party secretary Rob Salmond - stating, "You may get a few dollars in tax cuts, but they come at the cost of services that Kiwis rely on".  The statement then asked, "Friend, will you donate some of your tax cut to Labour?"  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan “Talk about hypocritical.”  Soper said “The tax cuts have meant a lot to a lot of people – to most wage and salary earners.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to former porn star, Stormy Daniels.  Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts - the first former US president to ever be convicted of a crime.  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan “He could face jail time, although a lot of people feel it’s unlikely.”  Mitchinson said “Here you’ve got a former president, in his late 70s – he will more likely be put on probatiON or house arrest.”   LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got a rare bit of good economic news today hearing that Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter is committed to staying here for at least another 20 years.   Normally, I don't have a lot for time for Tiwai. And that’s largely because of how the owners have behaved in the past: threatening to leave, going cap in hand to the government, getting saved, then a few years later threatening to leave again... getting some assistance, then a few years later threatening to leave again.   So, I'm always tempted to be hard on them. But this time... I'm actually relieved that those three electricity companies - Meridian, Contact and Mercury - have come to the party to keep Tiwai point going. Simply because we can’t afford to lose such a big manufacturer.  It's not a particularly sexy subject, so it doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.   But we have lost a lot of manufacturers out this country... to the point that we should actually be quite worried about it. Marsden Point has been closed.  There have been threats that Glenbro

A number of homeless people have been removed from Edinburgh to make way for tourists ahead of Taylor Swift's tour. Taylor Swift is set to perform in the region from 7 to 9 June, and reports have surfaced of homeless people being moved amid an accommodation shortage.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says accommodation prices have skyrocketed during that timeframe - with some rooms going for $1400 per night. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, a slew of big-box retailers have slashed prices across their stores. Walmart, Target and Amazon are among the big names bringing down their prices ahead of the summer season. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says these moves are being made to appeal to inflation-weary customers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert says the 2024 Budget was never going to be transformational, amid everything working against it. The Government unveiled their Budget today, and Minister Nicola Willis says keeping the books sound was her main priority. Listen to NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpack all of today's new updates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is seeking urgent talks, as the Australian Government considers making changes to its deportation policy. Peters says we don't want people whose formative experiences were nearly all in Australia being deported to New Zealand. Australian correspondent Murray Olds unpacks the proposed changes - and the impact they could leave.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call for unity from both sides of the New Zealand Rugby governance divide. The special general meeting ballot saw proposal 2 passed, meaning three of NZR's nine board directors must have experience at the provincial level. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the issue further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is this a transformational Budget - or a big letdown? The tax cuts were unveiled and new spending priorities were revealed, are they enough? Is it a bad look for the Government to stop funding cancer drugs? The provincial unions have voted against NZ Rugby's governance proposal - what do we think of this verdict? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 30 May 2024, a special Budget Day edition from Parliament. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her first Budget. She tells Heather how big your tax cut will be and how our economy will fare over the next three years. A tax expert tells Heather the tax cuts were well overdue, but cancer advocates are disappointed funding for new cancer drugs has been dropped. The rugby community is at war after provincial rugby unions voted against the NZ Rugby proposal to change the game's governance structure. Plus, Labour's Chris Hipkins, Associate Finance Minister David Seymour and the Huddle debate whether this Budget is transformational enough. 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.

Associate Finance Minister David Seymour was very vocal that ACT would have cut more in the 2024 Budget. Government spending is still set to continue at record levels, despite the current drive to reduce savings in the public sector. Seymour says ACT campaigned on cutting 'wasteful' spending - and would have liked to see more in this year's Budget. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The provincial unions believe the heart of rugby has been secured with the New Zealand Rugby governance vote going their way.  A bid for fully independent governance has been rejected - the board will require three members holding experience as a provincial director. Provincial unions spokesperson Rowena Duncum says this verdict is a good decision for New Zealand rugby. "There's two things that rugby players love - they love playing rugby and they love getting paid to play the game they love. So they won't want to walk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.