Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 11th July 2025, the mayoral campaign for Wellington councillor Ray Chung appears to be in tatters after a sex gossip email he sent about Tory Whanau was made public. Chung told Ryan Bridge he stands by the email, and makes a jaw-dropping admission.  Deborah Hart, the chair of the Holocaust Centre, is warning that antisemitism has moved from the fringes to the mainstream in New Zealand, and we need a strategy to fight it.  Why is the Victoria University student association telling graduates to go to Australia rather than find a job here?  Ryan talks to the woman in charge of hiring 500 new staff members for New Zealand's first Ikea store.  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.

Jewish leaders are calling for New Zealand to follow in Australia's footsteps and formulate an antisemitism strategy.  The Australian special envoy's plan includes harsher hate speech laws and stripping funding where possible from broadcasters, universities and arts institutions.   It follows a string of antisemitic attacks in Australia in the past few months.  Holocaust Centre of New Zealand Chair Deborah Hart told Ryan Bridge Jewish people in New Zealand are feeling scared.  She says people are seriously talking about a plan B and who might hide them if things take a turn for the worse.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Mayoral race was supposed to be winding down into boring town.  Tory went wild, had a tipsy whirlwind on Courtenay Place. A bit of booze, a bit of dine and dashing. It was salacious, it was scandalous.  As stories of late-night escapades and unpaid bills and missed council meetings flooded the newspapers, the streets flooded, literally. Every time a scandal burst onto the front page of The Post, so did a pipe. It was as if Wellington’s infrastructure were protesting the incompetence at City Hall.  Poonamis. An onslaught of cycleways. Crime. And still no second Mount Victoria tunnel.  It all came to a head, of course. Andrew Little entered the chat. Tory pulls out.  And from here it was meant to get boring. You know in an action movie when all the crazy stuff happens, there's half an hour left on the clock, but the world's been saved by superhero XYZ? All the main cast is safe and well and life goes on happily ever after?  That's where I thought we were with Welling

Embattled Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung is refusing to pull out of the race, despite being ditched by a major financial backer.   It comes after the Herald revealed Chung sent emails detailing an unsavoury sexual rumour about Mayor Tory Whanau – rumours she's categorically denied.   The scandal has led to high-profile Wellington philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik withdrawing his support for Chung’s campaign.  Despite this, Chung told Ryan Bridge empathically he's not backing out of the race, saying that's absolutely not his plan.  He’s also accusing one of the three colleagues he sent the email to of leaking it to Whanau.  He says he can't say for sure who it was... but says he could have a guess.   Chung would not, however say which of the three he was accusing of the leak.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week saw the All Blacks defeat France by a narrow four points.  Despite facing a greener Les Bleus side, the All Blacks struggled a bit in getting that victory over the line.  Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Ryan Bridge that last week’s result could influence France in one of two ways.  He says their close score could either be motivational, or they could think that Dunedin was their best shot at defeating the boys in black.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victoria University of Wellington Students Association is turning heads with its new campaign.   “No work. Sh*t pay. Why stay?” is the slogan for their “Where’s the Work?” campaign.  The group is aiming to draw attention to the record number of students ditching the country for prospects overseas.  Engagement Vice President Aidan Donoghue told Ryan Bridge they’ve seen within the public sector to lower the roles offered, and they want to encourage the private sector to pick up the slack instead.  He says we either let these people go and likely never see them again, or we keep them inhouse and try expand industries within New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 40 years since the French sunk the Rainbow Warrior. They wanted to stop the protests against nuclear testing at Mururoa. The terrorist attack by an allied country on on our soil was outrageous. Two years after the event, we cemented our nuclear free stance. We're officially against nuclear weapons. Testing is bad for the environment, no doubt. But let me ask you a question. Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have we had another world war? The answer is no. We've had decades of cold war between Russia and the West.We've had plenty of conflict - Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East.But nothing's escalated quite in the way it did in World Wars I and II. I think you've got to ask yourself why? Did we collectively realise the bloody cost of far away battles and drawing our friends into conflict?Did we wake up after the second round and think, oh, world wars aren't that great. Or we witness the power of atomic weapons in Japan and scare ourselves silly? The theory of nuclear deterrence basically says t

Illegal immigrants from France are still arriving in the UK. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are set to announce a deal that addresses this. Junior Doctors are also going on strike despite pay-rises from union-negotiations. UK correspondent Enda Brady says they're lacking public sympathy as everyone's already struggling financially. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fisher Funds' Sam Dickie explains how Tesla shares have dropped significantly. He says the company is suffering from Elon Musk's alignment to Trump, and from Chinese brands making better products. He says they need a CEO who's focused on the company, and not distracted with other ventures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Listener, Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Day are up for sale as owners Are Media go on the market. The sale raises the inevitable question of the future direction of the magazines under any new ownership – and whether they will remain under one umbrella. Founder and Managing Editor for The Spinoff Duncan Greive says magazines are just a tough market to be in, everywhere in the world. He says despite loyal readership, the numbers aren't as high as they once were. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Journalist Clare De Lore and Economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 40 years since the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Ryan has been wondering.. for all of our opposition against nuclear and nuclear weapons; are they actually what is keeping the world from erupting into even more serious conflicts right now? The owner of Woman's Weekly and Listener is looking for a buyer for the mags. Are magazines dead? Gold mine plans halted due to local lizards needing to be rehomed - should we risk hundreds of jobs for the protection of animals?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caleb Clarke as a power wing could be the tool that puts the ABs over France again, despite an underwhelming season. Head Coach Scott Robertson says he believes in the eye-test of what he sees, rather than what the stats say. He says it's about trusting players to step up, and for great players to stay consistent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 10 July 2025, Victoria University's Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston slams suggestion that thousands of homeowners should be left without the option of Government buy-outs when their homes get destroyed by weather related events. Forest and Bird's Nicola Toki explains passionately why we should put lizards before jobs when it comes to the Otago goldmine. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson tells Ryan why he thinks the ABs can make it 2/2 against the French on Saturday. Plus, the Huddle debates the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior and some of New Zealand's most well-known magazines up for sale - will they survive? 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.

Would-be customers are being charged for cancelling bookings. One customer was even pinged $250 for pulling out of a 5-person table. Consumer NZ Communication and Campaigns Manager Sahar Lone says people must be aware of the contract they enter when booking. However, she adds businesses must be reasonable and transparent with their policies to avoid controversy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Ryan Bridge about new poll results showing NZ First nearly acquiring double digits. He points out Labour and National have taken notable drops in the survey, with their respective bloc-parties having to make up the deficit. As it stands, the left-bloc doesn't have enough to form a government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elliot Smith joins Ryan Bridge to discuss the changes the ABs and Red Bull have decided to make.  Why would Christian Horner get sacked, and what does that mean for Max Verstappen's future with the team? What adjustments do the All Blacks need ahead of their second test with France? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's arguments against a recommendation the Government abandons property buy-outs.  An independent panel has prepared a proposal for flood adaptation to the Environment Ministry.  It says homeowners should be responsible for deciding to live in high-risk areas - and shouldn't expect the Government to stump up for weather-damaged homes.  Victoria University emeritus professor Jonathan Boston says he disagrees. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's Mayor, Tania Taspell, says a new water plan in the city addresses past wrongs.  The plan will see Karamū Tākina Springs co-managed by Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara and Rotorua Lakes Council and land nearby will be returned to Iwi.  The springs provide 60 percent of Rotorua's drinking water. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Conservation's declined a permit to clear vegetation at the Central Otago site - citing missing details on rehoming thousands of lizards.  Resources Minister Shane Jones has voiced frustration it puts hundreds of jobs at risk.  But Chief Executive of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Nicola Toki, says the lizards' existence are already under threat so mining would put their population on the brink of extinction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston's done it again. The old political workhorse of the Pacific just keeps getting more popular. New Zealand First has overtaken ACT in the latest Taxpayer's Union Curia Poll - it's now the third most popular party. I'll give you a break down of the numbers shortly, but this has got to be ego bruising for Seymour. He's just got his feet under the Deputy's desk and he's been overtaken in the polls by the bloke he's replaced. Not that simply being the Deputy PM gets you votes, but he's trying to make a good fist of it. Seymour's holding press conferences left, right and centre. Yesterday, a stand-up reacting to no change in the OCR. Today, a stand-up on Stats NZ numbers. Luxon's overseas on holiday. Winston's East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Seymour's been bogged down with Regulatory Standard's Bill, the Treaty bill and school lunches. Winston's been flying around the world keeping us in line with China and staving off Trump's tariffs... all while celebrating his 80th birthday. A