Larry Williams Drive

2025 has been a memorable year for global equity markets, and it's prompted speculation from investors.  Between economic downturns and tariffs, there's been plenty for experts to voice concerns about. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy farmer and agribusiness leader Nathan Guy is New Zealand’s new special agricultural trade envoy. Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister of Agriculture, announced Guy’s appointment today. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Huge benefits for the Hauraki District - as a major mining project gets the green light to expand operations. The Government's granted fast track approval for Waihi North to expand its operations in Hauraki District until 2043. Resources Minister Shane Jones estimates it'll generate an additional $5.2 billion dollars from gold and silver exports across its 18-year life. Hauraki District mayor Toby Adams says this will bring a lot of economic wealth into the region - beyond just gold and silver profits. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 18 December 2025, we're finally seeing those much talked about green shoots in the economy. Brad Olsen speaks to Ryan Bridge as GDP grew 1.1% in the third quarter of the year. The Education Ministry is shutting down Gloriavale's school. Gloriavale leavers lawyer Brian Henry says it's the right thing to do - but where are the more than 100 Gloriavale kids going to learn come January? Netball NZ's boss Jennie Wyllie has called it quits - former Silver Fern Marg Foster says this should just be the start of a leadership overhaul. Plus, the Huddle debates whether the economy has finally hit turned around and whether Netball's board should take more accountability. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU chief economist Craig Renney and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  New data shows GDP has bounced up 1.1 percent in Q3. Is this a sign things are going to get better? The Ministry of Education is shutting down Gloriavale's school amid safety concerns. But with six weeks to go until the new school year - where does this leave the kids? Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie has resigned effective immediately. Do we think this could have been handled better? Does Netball NZ's board need to go as well? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quick Christmas message to all the PR people advising sports people and sporting organisations - could you please start talking? The less you talk, the dodgier you look. Stop hiding your CEOS and board chairs under bushes in the hope scandals and poor decisions will be overlooked and forgotten and swept under the carpet. Because if 2025 has taught us anything, it's that they won't and they don't. Jennie Wyllie is gone from Netball NZ. No surprises there. There'll be no surprises either when half the board follows her out the door. They'll be lining that up as we speak with announcements to come soon, I would've thought. But, like cricket, we've got the top dog at a top sporting body disappearing before Christmas without a once-over in the press from their higher-ups. Because Matt Whineray is not fronting this. He's clearly on holiday somewhere. In the world of American football right now, much is being made of Travis Kelce's media management. He refused to do interviews post-match because they lost. Ye

Tauranga's mayor is hoping some of the public have suggestions of how the council can balance its books.  A Government-imposed rates cap means, from 2028, councils will only be allowed to increase rates 4 percent at most.  Tauranga Council is forecasting a 5 to 11 percent annual rise. Mayor Mahe Drysdale says it's already cut $38 million, but it isn't sure where more to cut.  "The big items are things like depreciation, interest - if you build infrastructure and you borrow money, those costs effectively just come out the next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's most scrutinised sports administrator of 2025 has resigned with immediate effect. Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie has been in the spotlight over the drawn-out Dame Noeline Taurua saga - where the Silver Ferns coach was temporarily suspended for high performance environment issues. Former Silver Fern Marg Foster says this is an opportune time for the sporting body to have a proper reset. "Over in Australia, with what they did with Netball Australia - they went through this situation and they've got the most amazing Liz Ellis running the show with her board and they're just flying. They are accelerating at huge rates, which is incredible."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gloriavale's private school has been ordered to close its doors, leaving a lawyer wondering how it ever managed to exist.  The Education Review Office highlighted ongoing safety concerns in July, and the Ministry put the school on notice in October.  The Ministry's confirmed it's cancelling the school's registration.  Gloriavale leavers' lawyer, Brian Henry, says he doesn't understand how the school stayed open until now, but he's crediting officials for shutting it down. "This school is the enabler of basically enslaving young children born in the community. It keeps them ignorant." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's back on the road to financial recovery, according to new reports. The latest Stats NZ data shows the economy contracted 0.5 percent in the year to September. But it's grown 1.1 percent - faster than expected - in the last quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says we're effectively returning to where we once were. "Momentum is starting to build, but it's building from a weak spot. So we're certainly not saying that the economy is completely back, but it is on a better track." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most parts of the economy are growing again. Stats NZ data out today shows GDP fell further in the June quarter than reported - at 1 percent, not 0.9. But GDP rose 1.1 percent in the September quarter - with growth in 14 of 16 industries. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what this means for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Government says it is entering new legal territory as it pledges to combat hate speech after Sunday's Bondi Beach terror attack.  Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured when two shooters opened fire at Jewish Hanukkah celebrations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced new powers will be given to target and crack down on people spreading hate speech and violence. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it feels like the Government is playing catch-up with this legislation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand is on the hunt for a new chief executive. Embattled Jennie Wyllie has resigned with immediate effect after nine years in the role, acknowledging 'challenges along the way'. Wyllie has been in the spotlight over the drawn-out Dame Noeline Taurua saga - where the Silver Ferns coach was temporarily suspended for high performance environment issues. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over who deploys helicopters to transport rescue teams as police apologise over a miscommunication.  A 13-year-old girl was left clinging to a cliff in Coromandel Peninsula's Hahei for hours last year - when police mistakenly thought she was dead. They refused to foot the bill for a chopper and a rescue crew made a nearly two-hour car journey. The Professional Firefighters Union's Martin Campbell says there needs to be clarity.  "In some cases, police are saying it's their call. And Fire and Emergency in the past have made that call. So there is a bit of confusion and misunderstanding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resident doctors in England have begun their strike action after rejecting the Government's latest pay offer. The British Medical Association (BMA), and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, met in a final bid to reach an agreement, but none was reached. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reserve Bank Governor Dr Anna Breman is pushing traders in financial markets to focus on the bank’s November 26 Monetary Policy Statement. This has prompted investors to speculate that interest rates will remain low throughout 2026. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Jevon McSkimming was today sentenced to 9 months home detention. Did we expect more? The Government has scrapped the road cone hotline with six moths left to go. Do we think this is a total waste of money? Trump's chief of staff did a Vanity Fair interview, but now says her quotes were taken completely out of context. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the most followed AI stocks have taken a hit over the last few days, prompting concerns about the sector's future. Both Oracle and Broadcom were down 10 percent, prompting concern from investors. Milford Asset Management expert Remy Morgan explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 17 December 2025, disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been sentenced to home detention for possession of objectionable material including child sex abuse and bestiality images. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka won't say how much more users of the Abel Tasman Great Walk might have to pay as a result of a historic settlement with Maori. Was the road cone tipline a total waste of money? It's being shut down after just six months. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Jevon McSkimming's sentence is too light and whether we should believe Vanity Fair or Donald Trump's chief of staff who says she was misquoted. 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 know you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but can we just take a minute to look at the good economic news coming out? Government books aside, tomorrow's GDP read will show we bounced back with a spring in Q3 - close to 1 percent growth, they reckon. What's more, that shocking read for Q2 should be revised down because it wasn't actually as bad as the topline number we were given to begin with. Today, consumer confidence is on the rebound. This is according to the Westpac McDermott Miller survey. It's up 5.6 points - to its highest level this year. Still slightly below 100 - which means more are still glass-half empty than full, but it's going in the right direction. As are Seek job ads and as are most of the numbers that move first when a recovery is underway.  Now, I say all of this completely aware that we've been here before and fired a blank. We've had many a false dawn and false start. But barring any major cock-ups, this recovery feels like its real and happening. The missing ingr