Larry Williams Drive

There's strong demand for water cremations, just months after the service first became available in New Zealand. Since opening in June, the Christchurch Crematorium has carried out 55 water cremations - using an alkaline solution to mimic the natural burial process. Around 80 percent of their clients choose cremation - most opting for the water-based option. Christchurch Water Crematorium co-director Andrew Bell says the water-based service sits better with customers, largely due to the environmental benefits. "We weren't expecting the response, to be honest, that we had from it. 75 percent straight away was a bit more than we were expecting."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sense the fall-out isn't over, after Te Pāti Māori's National Council has ejected two MPs from the party. Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi are calling it unconstitutional, and will sit as independents in Parliament for now. It's after weeks of party in-fighting playing out in public. The party's co-leaders say they haven't considered invoking the waka-jumping law, but didn't rule it out.   Former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says that seems to be the leadership's intention. "I still think there's a little bit of water to go under the bridge as yet - I understand there may well be some sort of legal challenges to process." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rainfall today at Tongariro National Park has helped dampen the fire that's rampaged across nearly 3000 hectares since Saturday.  Fire and Emergency says a flyover his afternoon's revealed no signs of live fire. Crews will use thermal imaging to detect hotspots tonight - which they'll target tomorrow.  Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton says they'll investigate what caused the fire.  He says hundreds of hectares will need to be restored - but most areas damaged had little public access.  "Organised tracks will be open to the public as soon as we get that 7 days lifted...and when it's safe to do so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders won't share why their National Council decided to expel Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. The Council met last night to decide on the two MPs' fate.  The expulsion comes after weeks of public sparring between the pair and Party President John Tamihere. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian radio legend John Laws has died. The 90-year-old affectionately dubbed 'Golden Tonsils' died in Sydney, after being hospitalised last month. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson looked back on his radio legacy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $2.5 billion dollar boost for our largest bank. ANZ New Zealand's announced a 21 percent increase in its annual profit. It's largely down to a good year for the bank's hedging - investments designed to offset financial risks. Chief Executive Antonia Watson says the bank also grew its balance sheet, and adjusted funds set aside for covering unpaid loans.  "In a sign of green shoots, we've actually released some of the credit provisions that we took in previous years." Westpac has had a 13 percent profit increase - and BNZ's had no change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 7 November. 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.

A new three-level luxury department store is set to open on Auckland's Queen Street next year.  The new store will be located at 131 Queen St and is set to include valet parking and an espresso music bar. Luxury retailer Faradays is behind the $30 million development.  Faradays Co-Founder and Chief Executive Eddie von Dadelszen said to Heather du Plessis-Allan, "the building itself, we're inheriting something truly, truly unique ... it's just an amazing historical embrace to do something contemporary and fresh and modern inside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think I am more interested in seeing how Zoran Mamdani goes than any other Democrat that I can remember in a very, very, very long time, because I genuinely am not sure if this is gonna go brilliantly for him. And he's the next big thing, or he's the next big disappointment, because there is no way, is there? Like, no way at all he's gonna be able to do everything that he's promised. I mean, he might be able to do a rent freeze in New York City. Sure, that's an easy thing to do. That's a stroke of a pen. Off you go. But it might backfire. Like it might lead to fewer housing units being added, which ultimately makes the problem worse. He can pick something else to do. He could do free childcare, hugely expensive. He could add a 2% tax on incomes over $1 million, but he may find those incomes start disappearing from his city. Either way, he's gonna have to pick some of his pet projects and go with just a few of them, because doing absolutely everything is just not gonna happen. And that's gonna lead to disapp

ACT leader David Seymour's controversial school lunch programme is getting a makeover going into it's second year of operation. The changes include catering giant Compass Group no longer providing lunches to primary schools- but they will still provide meals for secondary schools and intermediates.  Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "a subcontractor failed in term one of this year, there was a lot of publicity around that. We fixed it, with the help of Compass, and that's why they continue to supply the bulk of meals." The $3 meal cap is also gone with costs now reaching up to $5 per meal.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has announced to reduce the costs of some weight loss drugs, or as he calls them 'fat shots'. The Trump administration claims that Americans could lose 61 billion kilogrammes combined because of this deal. A US$1 trillion pay package, endorsed by Tesla shareholders, could be headed for Elon Musk . Meanwhile, the Government shutdown, which has now reached 37 days, is leading to flight delays and cancellations at US airports.  Jonathan Kearsley told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "what this is now doing is spreading the pain far beyond federal workers ... straight into American travellers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis announced today that the Government will boost New Zealand's screen rebate for the goal of bringing Hollywood back to New Zealand.  Overseas productions will now be able to claim a 25% rebate on what they spend here, up from 20%, when they invest more than $20 million. Australia currently offers up to 40% while Canada and the UK offer around 30%. Harry Harrison said to Heather du Plessis-Allan, "I wish we were sort of higher, but it allows us to play in the sand pit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan reveals the details of the report into Dame Noeline Taurua. The report includes the complaints from Silver Ferns players which lead to her being stood down in September. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British police have launched a manhunt for two wrongly-freed prisoners, including an Algerian sex offender. London's Metropolitan Police force said in a statement it was looking for the 24-year-old suspect after he was released in error. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this is concerning for the Government, who are on the defence after this incident.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices fell in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, and it's sparked concern for what this means for the dairy sector. This week's 2.4 percent drop  is the sixth consecutive decline for the GDT auction, and follows a 1.4 percent dip two weeks ago. HighGround dairy analyst Stuart Davison explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 China International Import Expo has gotten underway in Shanghai and some familiar Kiwi brands are making an appearance. Fonterra, Zespri, Silver Fern Farms and Comvita are among the big names showcasing their output on the world stage. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Michelin Guide is coming to New Zealand - and it cost Tourism New Zealand over $6 million to get it going. Is this good news for tourism? And is this a worthy investment? Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has raised concerns with the Government's proposed solutions for rough sleepers - and labelled the Government's response 'hysterical'. What do we make of all this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 6th November - Auckland Central MP and Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick tells Heather why she thinks there's "hysteria" around the rough sleeper issue. Police Minister Mark Mitchell reacts to Jevon McSkimming pleading guilty to possessing objectionable material. Famed New Zealand chef Ben Bayly celebrates the Michelin Guide coming to our shores. And the Huddle debates whether taxpayer money should be going to bring Michelin to New Zealand. 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.

How good is this idea of bringing Michelin to New Zealand in the hope that some of our restaurants will get some stars awarded?  Now, this is not free. We have to pay for it and we have to pay actually quite a lot of money for it. It's costing Tourism New Zealand nearly six and a half million dollars, and that's just for the first three years. And I don't know how much you have to pay after that.  But take a look at what the Aussies did when they looked at this  last year. It was going to cost them $4 million for the first year, $5 million for the second year, $7.5 million for the next year, and then basically for a few years thereafter, something like another three years, it was going to cost them another $7.5 million.  By my calculations, in the space of five or six years, they were going to have to fork out to Michelin about $40 million. Aussies looked at it, said, nah, but we've said yes, and I reckon we are doing the right thing.  This is grown-up, first world tourism.  I th

A meeting between battling factions in Te Pāti Māori's closer to being a reality. The party's faced weeks of turmoil and infighting, culminating in party president John Tamihere calling for the resignation of MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris. The party's leadership has agreed to a meeting next week to work through the issues with its MPs. Iwi leaders met with Takuta Ferris today. Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber says Ferris has agreed to attend, but he's yet to hear from Kapa-Kingi. "There's still a glimmer of hope, and that's what we're latching on to. We've asked to bring our huis at the marae, if we can get there before it all falls to bits, that would be the best outcome." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.