Larry Williams Drive

Three of New Zealand's biggest sporting bodies have seen their leaders depart, and it's prompted concerns about what this could mean for the sector. NZ Rugby head Mark Robinson is set to depart the role, Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie resigned at the end of last year and NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink recently resigned following a scandal. Former NZ Cricket CEO Martin Snedden says the leadership role's always come with challenges, but social media backlash makes scandals more noticeable. "These are very difficult jobs. Sport is volatile, stakeholders' expectations, sometimes broad expectations, are disproportionate to what the resources are of an organisation - and burnout is a huge issue." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT leader David Seymour says voters need to see the result of coalition policies before heading to voting booths. The Prime Minister's announced the election will be held on November 7 - a later date than the past two, which were held in October.  Seymour says the Government's done a lot of work on the economy, and a later election will give voters time to see that.  "And I think it's only fair that people get to judge the Government on the benefits of its policies delivered before they choose." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's doubts police are getting bang for their buck on recruitment spending. The Post reports police spent just over $1 million to market recruitment - between December 2023 and the following November. That surged to $2.76 million in the year after Richard Chambers took over as Police Commissioner. Police Association President Steve Watt says all organisations have to spend to make themselves attractive. "But when we're still struggling to get the 500 officers target, you'd have to wonder if that was money well spent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new challenger's taking on Auckland in the race for the most expensive properties.  Trade Me data shows the Bay of Plenty's average asking price has dethroned Auckland's for the first time in 10 years.  It's sitting on $963,000 - $11,000 above Auckland.  But Opes Partners economist Ed McKnight says that doesn't translate to higher sale values.  "The median sale price of a house in Auckland is still about $150,000 more than over in the Bay of Plenty." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil Defence in Tolaga Bay East Coast says low-lying households near Hikuwai River should evacuate now. Surface flooding has stranded several East Coast communities - with no easing yet of the tropical storm battering the North Island.  Tairawhiti has now joined Whangārei, Hauraki, Thames-Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty in declaring States of Emergency. Red rain warnings for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and parts of Gisborne will start expiring between 11pm and 11am tomorrow. Hauraki District Council says some homes in Whiritoa have been evacuated, and the Surf Club has been set up as a Civil Defence site.  In Thames Coromandel, Mayor Peter Revell says Whitianga, Cooks Beach and Pauanui are cut off, with near record rain already last night.  "There's going to be significant volumes of rain in the next four or five hours, so that will certainly load up the rivers and threaten slips on roads and what have you." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's not announcing any changes to the team, as parties tee-up political campaigns. The Prime Minister's confirmed a November 7 date for this year's general election - speaking from National's annual caucus retreat in Christchurch. Chris Luxon says any members retiring will announce it themself, and he doesn't feel compelled to reshuffle for the sake of it. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Luxon will be hoping for the economic recovery to be more noticeable by the time the voting booths open up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump celebrated the first anniversary of his second term with a near two-hour press conference, boasting about economic achievements and holding up photos of detained immigrants.  The US President said he was confident God was on his side - and that he thinks God would be proud of the work he's done so far. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump is looking forward to arriving in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, where he's expected to defend his ambition to seize Greenland.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps coach Rob Walter has revealed he's relatively set on playing XI options for next month's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The team begin their build-up five-match T20 series against India in Nagpur overnight. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what fans can expect ahead of the series. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A private eye says he was running on pure instinct when he helped apprehend a teen accused of stabbing a shop worker over Pokémon cards in a hobby store in Auckland's Newmarket.  A Hamilton 16-year-old will appear in Youth Court. Thomas James says such incidents and lower level crimes are fairly common in the area.  He says it was a dangerous situation.  "He made a decision when he left the house that morning, or wherever he left, to carry a knife on him. You only carry a knife if you're prepared to use it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says European leaders should focus on Ukraine, as he promises to follow through with Greenland tariff threats. The US President's warning he'll hit eight European countries with increasing tariffs from next month if he can't buy the arctic island.  UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says tariffs are completely wrong.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says Starmer has a clear interest in maintaining a good relationship with Trump and this development will complicate things.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new year is well and truly under way, and there's growing hopeful predictions about the state of the economy. GDP is projected to grow by 2.5 percent, according to new reports from HSBC. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next GDT auction is due to take place tonight, and farmers are speculating about the tone this could set for the new year.  The last GDT auction, held on January 7th, saw a 6.3 percent bounce back in the Index, but farmers are unsure of what this could mean. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, took to social media to discuss the feud impacting the family, and reveal why he doesn't want to reconcile. What do we make of all this?  US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap escalating tariffs on European countries opposing his bid to take over Greenland. Why is he so keen on this? Does it go deeper than just wanting minerals? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show China's 2025 birth rate was lower than expected, and that's impacted A2 Milk's shares. Data out of China revealed there were 5.63 live births per 1000 people in 2025 - the country’s lowest reading since 1939 and the fourth straight year of declines. Forsyth Barr analyst Matt Montgomerie says A2 Milk was halted on the Australian stock exchange, prompting further concerns.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, recently took to social media to reveal the details of a feud in the family. The 26-year-old claimed his parents tried to ruin his relationship with his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, and said he doesn't wish to reconcile with his famous parents. TV producer and host of the Beefing podcast, Alexandria Funnell, says Victoria was reportedly bringing Brooklyn's exes around the family in a bid to stir up drama. "One of the younger Beckham brothers was dating one of Brooklyn's exes - bringing them into the fold, inviting them to family events, which made Brooklyn and his partner very uncomfortable."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 20 January, 2026, US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley on the remarkable reason Donald Trump is pushing to seize Greenland. We talk to a school principal about the teacher shortage just days from schools starting again. Brooklyn Beckham's shock comments about his parents - who's side should we be on? Plus on The Huddle we debate family dynamics and Trump's moves on Greenland. 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.

I was at the movies recently and the first three ads that came up in the shorts beforehand were pretty interesting. We had a fast food ad... I think it was KFC... some new chicken thing you can eat, then we had a Burger Fuel ad, and for dessert, to top things off, we had a Wegovy ad. There was a woman climbing stairs, out of breath, and a chubby guy struggling to get into a wetsuit. The message was simple: take this drug and get you life back. If you look at the fattest countries in the world, we're a podium finish. We're the third biggest developed country on earth. The Americans are, unsurprisingly, ahead of us. If you go to the movies, you see cause and affect in the space of three minutes of ads. Too much processed food + lack of exercise = obesity. Divided now by Wegovy, of course. Now the debate is - who should pay. I heard an argument yesterday which was interesting, because you hear about people putting all the weight back on once the drugs wear off. If the state pays for the drugs, the argu

The US President is ramping up pressure on European nations in order to seize Greenland - an autonomous Danish territory. Donald Trump's threatening escalating tariffs for European nations opposing a US takeover of the Arctic Island, which says it has no interest in being bought. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says Trump wants minerals and resources from Greenland. "Some of these resources are critical for the construction of missiles and the bolstering of defence resources, so it's critical on that front."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shark expert says there's very little risk of sharks taking on swimmers in New Zealand - as they are in New South Wales.  Four attacks over the past two days have left two people in hospital with critical leg injuries.  Auckland Museum Marine Biology Curator, Clinton Duffy, says they're by bull sharks, which are one of the only species big enough to attack humans.  He says New Zealand's climate is not appropriate.  "The waters would have to warm up an awful lot before bull sharks would make home here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome news for shareholders from one of our largest companies' change in direction. Fletcher Building is selling its construction arm to French multinational Vinci Construction in a deal worth up to $334 million. The sale is subject to regularity approval, and reflects Fletcher’s move to focus on manufacture and distribution. Mark Lister from Craigs Investment Partners says it'll help the company get back on track - simplifying business and bringing down debt. "They hadn't had a dividend since 2023, so I think they want to get into a position where they can reduce debt levels and start paying dividends again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.