Larry Williams Drive

The Iran war is prompting Qantas to scale back flights within Australia, but it's flying more to Paris and Rome. The airline's scaling back domestic Qantas and Jetstar flights about 5 percent. Qantas says fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, and remain highly volatile. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the airline's projected to make a loss amid the ongoing conflict - and business confidence has dropped.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horses will be absent from Crusaders' match-day Super Rugby experiences at Christchurch's new stadium due to safety reasons. Officials say limited space around the field means the six steeds would have struggled to avoid the playing surface, therefore compromising the condition of the turf and creating potential injury risks.  Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand scientists are developing a long-acting ketamine tablet, which could change therapeutic delivery of the drug. They're aiming to create a tablet patients can take at home once or twice a week, for treatment-resistant depression. The pill is now being pushed towards regulatory approval in the United States, to make it widely available. Otago University professor, Paul Glue, says it's a big change from current ketamine therapy. "If you're getting the injection, it's got to be done in a clinic. You're going to be off your face, you're going to be very sedated, very spaced out - your blood pressure can go up."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK will not be involved in the US military blockade of Iran, according to new reports. The US announced the blockade after talks with Iran failed to secure a lasting peace deal in Pakistan over the weekend. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's still concern in the UK, with oil prices surging up again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global oil prices have shot up again, with Donald Trump gunning for authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The President's announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, after peace talks collapsed in Pakistan yesterday.  Despite the ceasefire, he's looking at resuming strikes.   Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. 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! Labour's Chris Hipkins has confirmed the party won't reveal their stance on the FTA with India until next week. Why do we think they're waiting? ANZ has forecasted three OCR hikes before the November election as the Middle East conflict is likely to drive up inflation. How bad is this for the Government? Did we over-hype the effects of Cyclone Vaianu? Who's to blame for the panic? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 13 April, 2026, ANZ thinks the Reserve Bank will raise the OCR as early as July. Chief Economist Sharon Zollner gives us their reasons why. Labour is being coy on whether it will agree to support the Fair-Trade Agreement with India, Chris Hipkins explains. Did we over-hype the effects of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Vaianu? And if so, who's to blame? Plus, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani tell Heather why they're so smitten with new RBNZ Governor Anna Breman. 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.

Right, here’s a question I’d like to answer: Do we all have strange priorities in this country, or is it just the evening TV news that does? Last night, I sat through 13 minutes of TV One telling me nothing had happened with the cyclone before we finally got to the Iran situation, where something actually had happened. First, One News took us to a reporter in the Bay of Plenty, who told us a tree had come down on the main street. A couple of older women joked about going for a swim in the swell, but really, nothing much had happened. Then we went to Gisborne, where wastewater had flooded, and the guy in the caravan from the previous night was barely affected - because, again, nothing much had happened. Next stop was Hawke’s Bay, where nothing had happened yet. Then the Coromandel, where Simon Mercer reported large storm surges in Whitianga - but nothing had happened.After that, the Far North, where the river was high - but nothing had happened. Then the weather presenter wrapped it all up, and we were to

Concerns have been raised over the new Wellington water entity, as its board members will be paid twice as much as their Wellington Water counterparts. The group's new chair will be paid $110,000 - a higher figure than the $60,000 Wellington Water's previous chair was paid. The entity's CEO will also be paid $645,000 - a higher amount than the previous Wellington Water CEO got. Wellington mayor Andrew Little says this is disappointing news, even if the group has plenty to manage.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict, and at least one major bank has forecasted increases to the OCR. ANZ has revised its outlook, with forecasted increases to the OCR bringing rates up to 3 percent by October. Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says skyrocketing fuel prices will have a flow-on effect on the New Zealand economy - and it's likely inflation will spike too. "That's an unfortunate reality of global events...the forecast will properly come out with the Budget, that's the kind of next major event." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's leader is demanding clarity on spending commitments in the India free trade deal - and isn't sure whether the party will back it.  The deal lives or dies on Labour's decision, with Coalition party NZ First refusing support.  Chris Hipkins says he's concerned about a clause he claims requires Kiwi businesses to invest $30 billion in India over 15 years.  He says he wants to see legal advice before making a final call.  "If that is a binding commitment, that we have to spend $2 in India for every dollar we get back from India, then is that a deal we should be supporting? That's a very live question for us." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning Iran has more ways to inflict economic pain if war resumes with the US, other than in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump's threatening a navy blockade of the shipping lane from 2am NZT after talks in Pakistan have brought no deal. Iran says military vessels approaching the Strait will be dealt with severely. Reuters Middle East correspondent Alexander Cornwell says UAE and Saudi Arabian oil terminals could be at risk. "The Iranians have proven that they have the capability of hitting both of these sites - and there is also the question of Yemen's Houthis and whether they will try, once again, to close or restrict the Red Sea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern from pharmacists over revelations Chemist Warehouse is planning to double its sites in the next decade.  BusinessDesk reports a confidential briefing for Regulations Minister David Seymour shows it's aiming to have 140 stores. Independent Pharmacy Group Co-founder John Saywell says corporate chains are squeezing out small local chemists. "Bigger and cheaper isn't always better, and in healthcare, it's a good idea to keep the business interests separate from the care and the local owner-operated pharmacists really care for their communities."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's largest bank is now forecasting three Official Cash Rate hikes before the election. ANZ is predicting three consecutive increases in July, September, and October - bringing the OCR from 2.25 percent to 3 percent. A week ago, most economists were expecting the central bank to keep the OCR on hold until December. But the Reserve Bank's hawkish tone is prompting most to change their forecasts. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says there's a lot of 'medium-term' uncertainty as concerns around inflation linger. "In real time, they're constantly having to weigh up the upsides and downsides of going too soon or going too late. And essentially, if you're at neutral, it might feel like a more comfortable space to perch and wait and see how things pan out."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump is considering resuming strikes on Iran, with no deal reached in Pakistan yesterday. The US President's announced his navy will blockade the Strait of Hormuz from 2am NZT. Iran says any military vessel approaching the Strait will be dealt with severely.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon has confirmed New Zealand hasn't been approached about any possible foreign alliances.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to Brunei and Malaysia to boost the nation's fuel supply amid the ongoing crisis. Malaysia and Brunei are key diesel suppliers to Australia, and Albanese has warned these nations could limit supply if the conflict continues.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese will leverage Australia's offerings to the regions - including natural gas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rory McIlroy has joined an exclusive group of four to win the Masters back-to-back. The Northern Irishman has claimed a one-stroke victory to successfully defend the title that he won last year to claim a career grand slam. He joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in winning consecutive titles at Augusta. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MetService is defending its Cyclone Vaianu warnings, saying it still believes it could have been deadly.  It's now entirely off-shore and moving away from New Zealand, with all watches and warnings lifted.   Before it arrived, forecasters warned of 'life-threatening' winds and flooding.  Meteorologist John Law says the winds were incredibly strong - and some places had more than a months' worth of rainfall.  "We never want our forecasts to be overdramatic or over-hyped, but we want to give people enough time to prepare and see what the future might have." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 10 April, 2026, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown signs the country's first city deal. He tells us why he couldn't get the bed levy across the line this time. Judge Ema Aitken gets to keep her job. Former Attorney General Chris Finlayson tells us if that was the right call. What was Melania Trump up to with that press conference? Bo Erickson is Reuters US Politics correspondent and was in the room. He gives us the inside scoop. And Alex Powell and Andrew Gourdie discuss why parents don't volunteer on their kids sports teams anymore. 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.

Hands up—who knew the ANZ Premiership starts tomorrow? This is netball. I’m guessing not many hands went up, which is a worry. It’s somewhat forgivable, given the state of netball’s head office at the moment. It doesn’t have a permanent CEO, and the chair and several board members have recently resigned. So you can understand why things are a bit of a mess and the communication strategy isn’t quite working. But it’s also not forgivable, because this is a pivotal season for netball. This season has to work. It probably won’t, but it at least needs the best possible chance, because professional netball in this country is fighting for its life. There’s no broadcast deal this year. Sky pulled out at the end of last year, so netball has had to pay TVNZ just to get it on TV2. That means there’s no money coming in from Sky, and players have had to take a 20% pay cut—those who are still here, anyway. Nine Silver Ferns have already moved to the Australian competition, where they earn double what they do here. And that