Larry Williams Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, former Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Did Luxon do the right thing in calling the leadership vote? Do we think he's safe in his seat for now? What about after the election?  Shane Jones' infamous 'butter chicken' comments - what do we make of this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon has survived a confidence vote he initiated among his Caucus today, after speculation there's been dissatisfaction. National MPs aren't revealing details of the vote - or how many supported Luxon. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion has revealed business confidence has taken a hit for the March quarter. Only a net 1 percent of firms expect better general economic conditions over the coming months on a seasonally adjusted basis. EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says people were expecting the economy to get better - and this conflict put an economic 'handbrake' on recovery.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assurance MetService gave the most notice possible before yesterday's flash flooding in Wellington. The record breaking 77-millilitre an hour deluge inundated the Capital from about 4am. Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay south of Tutira still sit under an Orange heavy rain warning until later tonight. A slip's burst a wastewater pipe in Vogeltown - forcing a household to evacuate. Victoria University professor James Renwick says MetService uses the best forecasting technology. He says it's a bit like earthquakes, which are unpredictable, but can be detected as they happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London Underground services are set to face significant disruptions, as the first of two 24-hour strikes by some Tube drivers begins. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, which represents roughly half the drivers on the network, are striking over a voluntary proposal to allow train operators to move to a compressed four-day week. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained how this action will impact commuters this week.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 21 April, 2026, Christopher Luxon wins a confidence vote on his leadership at the National Party caucus. We ask if he'll last until the election. A police boss tells us how successful a crackdown on retailers selling nitrous oxide, known as nangs, has been. A climate science expert says the technology is there to better forecast weather disasters. And on The Huddle, Maurice Williamson and Phil Goff on whether Luxon did the right thing with his leadership vote. 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.

Microsoft has today announced it will double its existing AI and digital skilling commitment in New Zealand, with a plan to train up over 200,000 Kiwis by 2028. The company has observed this training will help many businesses, with survey data showing 59 percent of Kiwi business leaders say productivity must increase. Microsoft's national chief technology officer, Sarah Carney, says upskilling will help unlock more opportunities for New Zealand's future.   "Skilling is how you unlock that. Teach people how to use the tools and set them free."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland-based company Lanaco had its EcoStatic air filters on board the Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years. The filters were also on board an unmanned flight in 2022. They can be used during a fire on board, which presents unique challenges in a weightless environment, because there’s not only smoke and other toxic particles, but water droplets floating around as well. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, blow me down - they had a leadership vote in caucus, called by Chris Luxon himself, and he survived. Good on him for doing that. That is exactly what I said  he had to do if he wanted to shut this stuff down for the next week and a bit that Parliament has left to sit. And even if you think sticking with Chris Luxon was the wrong call by the National Party - which, by the way, I do; I still think he needs to go before the election - you’ve got to respect the fact he had the courage to do this. Leadership votes are always a big risk. They’re always a guess. It doesn’t matter what the MPs say to you. It doesn’t matter if they tell you they’re going to support you. When it comes down to it, and it’s a secret ballot, it’s always a roll of the dice. It takes real steel to do that and he had it. Now the question, of course, is: is that it? Right - is it going to be quiet all the way through to November’s election?He’s going to be the leader, nothing more to say? Not necessarily. I think this increases his

The small Waikato township of Waitoa is losing its long-term access to free water.  The local Fonterra factory is ending its more than 40-year old arrangement to supply locals water - originally to serve homes affected by factory dust.  Matamata-Piako District Council is consulting the public on an 8.2-million proposed solution. Mayor Ash Tanner says Fonterra likely wants to avoid responsibility for anyone getting sick.  "The problem I think we have in this country is - there's an incident, and then we have a bit of a knee-jerk reaction and then we set up a regulatory body to overlook it and then we go over the top and we make it harder to supply it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation's already looking vulnerable, with the reality of worse economic blows still to come.  Figures out today showed annual CPI unexpectedly held at 3.1 in this year's first three months, confounding expectations it would fall as low as 2.8.  Economist Cameron Bagrie says the rate reflects what was happening to prices, just as the cost of fuel began to climb, when the Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz.  He says we'll get an inflationary hit in the June quarter, and a better starting position would have been preferable.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says he'll comment no more on speculation about his leadership - calling it a media soap-opera - after saying his job's safe.  Chris Luxon delivered a prepared statement to media, revealing he's backed by his Caucus, saying it passed a formal motion of confidence at today's three-hour meeting. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacked the 'unusual' circumstances behind this release.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a major safety move, the National Rugby League has capped contact in training in a bid to reduce injuries including concussion. Reports reveal all 17 NRL and 12 NRLW clubs have been informed of the development, with guidelines limiting the minutes of contact in both in-season and pre-season training sessions. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have carried out sting operations to crack down on illegal sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use - known as nangs. Five retailers across the North Island have been charged under the Psychoactive Substances Act and could face prison time. The canisters are meant to be used to whip cream. Superintendent Dion Bennett says during the stings - it was clear customers were buying nangs for recreational use. "We weren't dressed as bakers, we didn't represent ourselves as home bakers - it was obvious that we weren't there to buy nitrous oxide for baking purposes."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Starmer is fighting for his job as he faces MPs to explain the sacking of the top civil servant in the UK Foreign Office. It follows the revelation that his department didn’t tell the Prime Minister that Lord Mandelson failed security vetting. Mandelson took up the role of UK ambassador to the US in February 2025, but seven months later he was sacked over ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump's accused Iran of completely violating its ceasefire agreement - with the Strait of Hormuz closed again. Iran's fired shots at ships in the Strait over the weekend, and has warned it'll stay closed until the US lifts its blockade. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly revealed how these developments could impact markets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Everyone's waiting for the National Party caucus meeting in Wellington tomorrow morning. What do we think will happen here? Is Luxon on the way out?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 April, 2026, we ask the MetService's head of weather news how they got the forecast so wrong with the latest flooding disasters. Education Minister Erica Stanford outlines relief for schools affected by the fuel crisis. We hear about a bus trial where the driver lets you off closer to your destination at night. And on The Huddle, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani discuss the pressure going on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's leadership. 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.

New Zealand First is heading into the election with a plan to break up the supermarket duopoly. If re-elected, the party's promising to split Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-operatives - one for New World and Four Square, and the other for Pak'nSave. Consumer NZ says the current Government's efforts to encourage a third player into the market have largely been unsuccessful.  Head of Advocacy and Research, Gemma Rasmussen, has raised questions over this plan - and indicated it might not be the best solution to rising food prices. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has raised some concerns over NZ First's bid to break up the supermarket duopoly.  NZ First has announced that if re-elected, it will split Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-operates: one for New World and Four Square, and the other for Pak'nSave.  Nicola Willis says it's good idea, but it needs to be carefully implemented.  "That's why I've been taking my time working through proposals, looking very carefully at costs, very carefully at benefits, reviewing that, thinking about implementation - because I agree with Winston that the margins in our supermarket sector are very high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.