Larry Williams Drive

The Education Minister says new nationwide school reporting will give teachers and parents clearer data on how students are performing. Nationally consistent assessments in reading, writing and maths will roll out this year, with students ranked against one of five progress indicators twice a year. Erica Stanford says parent reports already exist - but they’re inconsistent across schools. "You get some schools who provide very detail-rich reporting and others who don't do that same level of detail. So we're just trying to get consistency across the board."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There'll be a wait until we learn the outcome of today's court case between expelled Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and her former party. The High Court at Wellington today heard arguments relating to the MP's expulsion from the party last year, which followed allegations she misused party funds. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Kapa-Kingi's lawyers suggest the party was trying to hold her responsible for comments by her activist son, Eru Kapa-Kingi, who called out Te Pāti Māori's leadership. "Kapa-Kingi's lawyers say that she's not remotely responsible for her son's comments." The court's decision has been reserved.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A change in student progress reports, with schools now required to give parents more clearer information about how their child is progressing. Nationally consistent assessment and reporting will be implemented in primary and intermediate schools for the first time this year. The new system replaces a 20-year-old framework and provides parents of Years 0-to-10 students with progress markers and twice-yearly learning updates. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what these changes mean for Kiwi students. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia,  the former Coalition parties are trying to get their numbers back up amid ongoing leadership struggles. Support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is growing, while support for the Liberal Party and Nationals has continued to drop. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is looking to make some changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teenage running sensation Sam Ruthe is confident his record-breaking mile in Boston only marks the beginning of his capability. The 16-year-old's broken Sir John Walker's overall national mark by two tenths of a second with a three minute 48.88 dash indoors. Ruthe races again in North Carolina this weekend. Sportstalk host Jason Pine speculated about Ruthe's athletic future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running phenom Sam Ruthe set another middle distance record - and there's belief it could go deeper than good genetics. The 16-year-old broke Sir John Walker's overall national mile mark set at Oslo in 1982 at an indoor meet in Boston. Ruthe's grandfather, Trevor Wright, is also a skilled runner, but he says genetics only contribute to a small part of the teen's success. "I put it down to dedication, talent and a good coach and a good manager...definitely dedicated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 30 January, 2026, police say they're drawing a line on protests across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. A Westport life-time resident and real estate agent tells us about the struggle to get house insurance. Why a company that sells dung beetles to clean up water on farms is in trouble. And on the Sports Huddle, Paul Allison and Darcy Waldegrave discuss if it's a done deal that Jamie Joseph will be the next All Blacks coach. 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.

Now, listen — I think it’s a little early in the year to be making too many predictions about election year. But having said that, I do think there is a very strong chance that Winston Peters might be the story of the year. If he carries on the way he is in the polls, he could well be in the double digits — well into the double digits — by the time November’s election rolls around. He’s already sitting somewhere between 10 and 12 percent in the past couple of polls, and generally minor parties go up in polling the closer we get to election day because of the extra attention they get during the campaign. Commentators are already talking about the possibility of the next government being just National and New Zealand First — no ACT in there — with the two of them together potentially being enough. That could happen if Winston keeps climbing the way he is, and obviously if National can get its act together and lift its vote share. If you don’t believe it’s possible that Winston will climb further, just look at w

The stench emitting from a faulty wastewater treatment plant in Christchurch has gotten worse in recent weeks.  The smell, nicknamed, 'The Big Stink,' has been affecting Bromley for nearly 4 years, resulting in locals having to check wind direction before socialising outside or hanging washing.  Community Advocate Stephen McPaike told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'It's just as bad as what happened when the fire happened, if not a little bit worse.' The council says it's going to be another week before they can get it back under control. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tough times in the dung beetle business have prompted a call for a dump of funding from the  Government. Dung Beetle Innovations was launched in 2014 in Auckland's Whenuapai.  Co-Founder Shaun Forgie says the dung beetles can be used to clear manure from farms, preventing it from sliding into rivers.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that his sector receiving funding will benefit others.  Forgie says his business can make livestock cultivation more efficient.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international relations expert says it would've been hypocritical for New Zealand to sit on Donald Trump's peace board.   The  Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announced this morning that New Zealand won't be accepting Trump's invitation to join the board.  The denial comes days after the Government signalled it was considering the offer.  Otago University Professor Robert Patman told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Trump lacks the credibility to run a board of peace.  He says he's threatened the territories of two democratic allies this term -- and if  person wants to chair a peace board they have to walk the talk.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Tamaki says he is still planning to protest by walking across Auckland's harbour Bridge tomorrow despite a police promise to stop it. He's urging crowds to meet him at Victoria Park in the central city tomorrow for a protest in opposition to the COVID-19 restrictions. Police Superintendent Naila Hassan told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the police are unsure if the march will actually go ahead, but that doesn't mean they are unprepared. "We'd prefer to keep the operational details close to our chest, but we will be ready to respond to that group if they decide to march onto the harbour bridge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Westport residents the AA insurance announcement yesterday is not the start of their troubles at all. They've been having trouble with insurance for ages even before AA decided to stop issuing new cover. Westport resident Glenys Elley told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, "Even if a company has a policy, it doesn't guarantee that they will continue that policy on." She says that some people were fine with the application process for insurance until they entered their postcode, at which point the application was denied. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing today. The two leaders met to repair relations between the nations, as it's been over 8 years since a UK Prime Minister visited China. UK correspondent Enda Brady says concerns were raised before the visit, but the meeting appeared to go smoothly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta and Microsoft are among the big tech companies that just released their quarterly results after the stock market closed, and there's more results to come. Meta shares were up 9 percent, but Microsoft stock was down about 5 percent. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds unpacked the data further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The storm that lashed Canterbury, Otago and Southland with severe winds in October has resulted in the second-most claims for an event in rural insurer FMG’s 120-year history. New Zealand’s largest rural insurer has already paid out $20 million, but expects that figure to rise to about $50 million. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Winston Peters has raised concerns with the Government's new trade agreement with India, and he's claimed the agreement will see more migrants taking jobs off Kiwis. What do we make of this?  AA Insurance has paused new policies in the West Coast town of Westport. Do we think more parts of the country will follow suit? What will people do? The death of the doer-upper - do we feel bad about this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 29 January, 2026, a major insurer's put a halt on new home policies in Westport because of the flood risk - is it temporary or permanent? Why your morning school run is the most dangerous time of the day on the roads. We talk to investor and influencer Simon Squibb about making Kiwis' dreams come true - and learn about the Pink Broccoli. Plus, on the Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour and Ali Jones discuss the death of the doer upper. 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.

Simon Squibb has always been committed to encouraging people to fulfil their dreams, and as a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, he's in a position to make real change.  He's invested in startups, used his professional insight to write a book - What’s Your Dream? Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life - and he's committed to inspiring people to take risks. Squibb's in New Zealand and he's already been spotted helping a chef in Remuera to fund her ambitions. "I can't help it, I love hearing people's dreams, and so there's no holiday from helping people that need it. And so I have actually now helped four people in New Zealand with their dreams, which is pretty exciting."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The thing we’d been warned about with climate change has now happened - AA Insurance has stopped offering new insurance policies for Westport because of the risk of flooding. At the very end of last year, AA Insurance wrote to the Buller District mayor advising that the company would be putting a - what they call temporary - stop to new insurance policies for properties in the 7825 postcode, which includes Westport, Carters Beach, and Cape Foulwind. If you listen to the experts, this is just the start. It’s already happening in flood‑risk towns in Australia, it’s now happened here, and it will keep happening until these towns find ways to keep themselves safe through measures like flood defences. You don’t need me to tell you what this is going to do to property prices. They’re only going in one direction - down. Not least because you need insurance to take out a mortgage. And you know what happens next, people start putting pressure on the Government to bail them out from dropping property values. They want