Larry Williams Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump sparked some outrage following his criticism of allied efforts, including New Zealand, in Afghanistan. Were his comments out of line?  New Zealand Rugby has unveiled their updated criteria for a new All Blacks coach - applicants must be from New Zealand and have international head coaching experience? Do we think this is the right move?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 26 January, 2026, we explore how long Mount Maunganui's likely to remain off-limits in the wake of the landslide. Interim New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Lancaster gives us details of the search for the next All Blacks coach. An entrepreneur outlines how he'd give Auckland's CBD a makeover. And on The Huddle, Phil Goff and Trish Sherson have harsh words for Donald Trump's criticism of allied efforts, including New Zealand, in Afghanistan. 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.

As the human tragedy at Mt Maunganui continues, the timeline around warnings and what authorities knew and when they knew it is becoming clearer. Fire and Emergency has confirmed it received a 111 call about landslides on the Mount before 6 o’clock on Thursday morning. As you would expect, it has a robust record-keeping system, which records that call as being at 5.48am. The slips at that time did not affect life or property, and so three minutes later at 5.51am, Fire and Emergency says it notified Tauranga Council as the landowner responsible. But here’s where it gets tricky. Tauranga City Council’s CEO initially said there was no record of the call at the council’s end. Then he was corrected - and that the council did actually receive that call. But given all of the staff who were working and the various calls they were receiving as they responded to weather problems that morning, it’s going to take a bit of time and the independent review to work out the timeline at the council’s end. Personally, I had no

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hoping inflation can drop back into the Reserve Bank's target band off the back of the latest data. The annual inflation rate for 2025 was 3.1 percent, up from 3 percent for the year to September. Willis says the Government supports the Reserve Bank getting back to their target band of 1 to 3 percent. "It's inflation that's the broadest driver of the cost of living. At the same time, interest rate reductions have been really important to recovering our economy after a very difficult period, but it's always the case that as the economy recovers, you do expect that eventually interest rates do go up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief among experts that New Zealand depends on the World Health Organisation for disease prevention and health promotion.  The US officially withdrew from the WHO last week.  Now Winston Peters has questioned the organisation's effectiveness and how it's using its funding.  Former WHO director Dr Rob Beaglehole says while the WHO has room to improve, New Zealand ultimately benefits from membership - especially given that future pandemics are 'inevitable'. "The only way to respond effectively, apart from closing borders for a short time, is going to be to work with other countries together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is the benefactor of the World Surf League granting its athletes the left hand break they've been begging for. Raglan's Manu Bay will host the newly instated New Zealand Pro in late May. Surfing New Zealand CEO Ben Kennings says says this is 'huge' for the sport's place in New Zealand. "We can't wait to host those best surfers in the world, it's going to be pretty spectacular." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster has insisted today's coaching policy change isn't an admission of fault when hiring Scott Robertson. NZR has invited Kiwi coaches with international experience to apply for the vacant All Blacks job, something Robertson didn't have. Lancaster says New Zealand is 'incredibly blessed' to have a high calibre of potential coaches and he's confident the right choice will be found. "We're confident that there is a good number of coaches, both here in New Zealand and around the world that are capable of coaching the All Blacks and we don't think we need to go outside of that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of Mount Maunganui's Mauao is unclear, as efforts to recover six people buried in a landslide continue. Iwi leaders say they are yet to have a hui to discuss what the long term plan is.  Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui historian Buddy Mikaere says a rahui is being placed on it now, and there does need to be a rest - which should be taken advantage of. "Have a proper review of the entire Maunga, the track system, to see where likely hazards might be, and to note those and put in place actions that might prevent this from happening again."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament is set to return from tomorrow for a single-week sitting block, but the big day's already been overshadowed. Last week's extreme weather has made a significant impact, with Prime Minister Chris Luxon skipping  Rātana to visit the impacted areas.  Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says it's likely Parliament will pay tribute to those lost to the extreme weather to start the year off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Australia Day today, and the holiday's sparked protests, division and debate about the meaning of the day. Thousands of people took to the streets for the Invasion Day march protesting the holiday, only to clash with protestors out for the March for Australia rally. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says people have raised concerns about the polarising nature of the holiday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby is determined to nail an expedited process, as they open for applications for All Blacks head coach. The criteria for Scott Robertson's replacement states the new person needs experience internationally and must be a New Zealander. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns about how many investigations will be held into Mount Maunganui's deadly landslide, with six people still buried and careful recovery work continuing. WorkSafe will look into organisations with a duty of care at the holiday park, the Council's reviewing events beforehand, and Fire and Emergency could launch a probe. The Institute of Safety Management's Mike Cosman says police will investigate on behalf of the Coroner, and could do so in their own right too. He says others may also be looking deeper. "One of my concerns here is that when you've got multiple simultaneous investigations going on - is witnesses, whanau, first responders having to retell their stories multiple times to multiple different agencies. It can be incredibly traumatic." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 23 January. 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.

Now, have a listen to this. This happened in Thames this morning as the Prime Minister arrived to go and check on the damage to the properties and check out the roads and to meet with the victims' families.  It's a disgrace what you're doing with your climate positive, Prime Minister. It's an absolute disgrace and we're suffering now. You're listening to a bunch of protesters heckling the Prime Minister. They're yelling shame as he gets into his car. And yesterday, Chris Hipkins mentioned climate change in his message to victims' families. Now, everybody in this country knows how political climate change has become. Well, not, no, that's wrong. Not so much climate change, but how we respond to it. So to wave banners and bring into the debate about climate change, absolutely they're right. The protesters, they have the right to do that. It's also the right of the Leader of the Opposition to mention it in his address as well. But the question is whether it's in good taste. And I reckon it's a bit off for a

A large insurance bill is looming from the latest weather-related disasters. The landslide at Mount Maunganui combined with flood damage in Northland, Coromandel and Gisborne means that the claims are set to roll in. Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens told Ryan Bridge that people affected can expect delays given the high number of claims being made.  "I think everybody understands that with a significant weather event, there are going to be more delays than if it's just business as usual." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shoppers may be hit with a new unexpected fee if they are using Woolworth's click and collect service. Currently, Click and Collect is free at Woolworths as long as you're buying at least $50 worth of groceries, but the chain is going to change the rules so that all Click and collectors pay $3.50. Woolworths Director of E-Commerce Mark Wolfenden told Ryan Bridge that the price was put in place to simplify the fee on all orders, and to help the company invest in it's services. "It's about making it more sustainable and making sure that we can keep investing in amazing technology and services which honestly Kiwis are demanding it ever more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expectation the official cash rate will be held steady as inflation is higher than expected.  Inflation's clocked in at 3.1 percent which means its snuck outside of the Reserve Bank's target band.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says there's now quite wide agreement that the OCR will be held at 2.25 to prevent further inflation.  She told Ryan Bridge that more extreme measures could be needed.  Zollner says it's more likely than not that the Official Cash Rate will be hiked sometime this year.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police says authorities will be working through the night and tomorrow - to find people trapped after a slip slammed into Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park. Six people are unaccounted for, including two teenagers, after it tore through tents, cars, caravans, a toilet block and the hot pools around 9.30am yesterday.  NZ Herald Senior Journalist Michael Morrah told Ryan Bridge that there are 6 people confirmed to be trapped under the landslide, with another 3 people still yet to be accounted for. He said that the police are currently going through the list of all the people who may have checked into the campground, and are making sure that they have left the campsite and are accounted for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scammers behind the Manage My Health security breach could attempt to contact affected customers.  Earlier this month, the patient portal became aware more than 127-thousand users' health records had been compromised in an attack last year.  Netsafe chief online safety officer Sean Lyons told Ryan Bridge that the cybercriminals could impersonate the company or other agencies - in what's known as a recovery scam.  He says they could say they work for Manage My Heath or say they could help people secure information.  He says it's a tried and tested path for scammers.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greenland remains on edge - even after Donald Trump has ruled out tariffs on NATO countries and military force to seize the Arctic island. The US President spoke at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, claiming he’s laid the groundwork for a future deal. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacked the reactions to this development. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.