Larry Williams Drive

There's hopes other regions can catch up to Wellington, on contactless public transport payments.  The council decided to leap-frog the national ticketing system - concerned it would take too long.  It's spent $5.5 million dollars setting up the system.  Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator Jon Reeves says comparatively, the national system seems very expensive.  "Just over $1.3 billion dollars to set up the entire system throughout the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran and the US have accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's travelling to the Persian Gulf to help shore-up the US and Iran ceasefire. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Starmer is set to attend more meetings to ensure the ceasefire lasts - and gets extended. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank says it's still unclear what today's Iran ceasefire announcement - and resulting dramatic fall in oil prices - mean for New Zealand. The central bank's held the Official Cash Rate unchanged, at 2.25 percent. It's working off the assumption inflation will surge to 4.2 percent this quarter. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both US President Donald Trump and Iran have portrayed the last minute ceasefire deal as a victory for their nations. The nations accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks and Iran's agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen says shares in the US, Australia and New Zealand have gone up off the back of the news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is taking up a significant role in New Zealand's employment operations, and one Kiwi company has opened up about the process. Employment Hero, which specialises in recruitment software, has revealed that AI has screened tens of thousands of CVs each month and overseen 1000 job interviews in March. Employment Hero's Neil Webster says business owners have revealed prospective employees have also used AI in the recruitment process - and hiring managers will manually check any candidate that seems promising.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The US and Iran have announced a temporary ceasefire and they've accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting for two weeks. What do we think will happen next? Will this help reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Less than 60 percent of schools have adopted the Government's new SMART framework. Why do we think this is happening?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 8 April, 2026, we talk to a Middle East correspondent about whether the ceasefire between the US and Iran will hold. Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman on the warning bells ahead as she keeps the official cash rate at 2.25%. We talk to the owner about what you'll get if you buy Australia's smallest town. And one of our Huddlers, Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame, is hot on schools ignoring the Education Minister's new SMART tool. 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.

You might not like Donald Trump’s boorish ultimatums or his threats to end a civilisation but it worked, didn’t it? Iran backed down with 90 minutes to spare. The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened and they will go to Pakistan for ceasefire talks in two days. Now, some are arguing this is yet another case of Trump chickening out - but it isn’t. He got what he wanted, didn’t he? You accuse him of chickening out only if he doesn’t get something. If he gets what he wanted, then the tactic worked. And what has he had to give up to get it? Nothing. The only thing he’s had to give up is his plan to attack - which may or may not have been bluster anyway because it’s Donald Trump. Iran, meanwhile, had been refusing to go to Pakistan for peace talks. It would not agree to anything other than a permanent end to the fighting and wouldn’t accept a temporary ceasefire. It was holding the strait to ransom. Today, it has had to give up on all three positions. That does not mean this is an outright victory for Trump. Take a l

A supply chain expert says ships won't immediately return to normal frequency through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the US have accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks, and Donald Trump's pulled back his extreme threat he'd obliterate Iran. Wollongong University's Ethan Nikookar says insuring shipments will still be difficult. "Insurers may still treat the area as high-risk, so that means higher premiums, limited coverage, and fewer ships will move to transit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two residents of Australia's smallest town have decided to sell up and move on. Cooladdi is a nine-hour drive west of Brisbane, and the new owner will be expected to keep busy - working as a postie, publican, motelier, restaurateur and shopkeeper. One of Cooladdi's residents, Carol Yarrow, says the town is on Australia's longest road, and it sees lots of people come through every day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank says there are still plenty of unknowns, after today's Iran ceasefire announcement and resultant oil price drop. It's held the Official Cash Rate at 2.25 percent, but is forecasting inflation could surge to 4.2 percent this quarter. Governor Anna Breman says that figure could be much lower if things settle in the Middle East. But she says if not, fuel costs could rise more, pushing inflation even higher. "The worst case scenario is that firms that are already squeezed feel like they have to pass these costs onto consumers, and that we see inflation getting embedded into the economy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It remains an open question if Iran will continue to toll ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with moves to reopen the critical shipping lane. Iran and the US have accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks. Israel says it supports suspending strikes on Iran - but not on Lebanon. Middle East correspondent Gordon Robison says Iran's made huge profits tolling the few ships it's let through the Strait since the war began. "The ship owners don't care much about paying the tolls, as long as they can get out. What we can all hope is that the American administration decides to look the other way, at least for now." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some mixed messaging on a ceasefire being worked through by Iran and the US, that quickly sent global oil prices below $100USD a barrel. Both countries have accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks and the US President's backtracked on threats to obliterate Iran. Iran's put forward a 10-point plan, which includes letting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with Donald Trump saying the US will help with the traffic buildup. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked today's announcement further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House is considering in-person talks with Iran - hours after Donald Trump pulled back his threats to obliterate the country. The US President says he's agreed to Pakistan's request for a two-week ceasefire, if Iran allows shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump says they're working through a10-point peace plan, proposed by Iran. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says this news led to oil prices dropping, but it's unknown how long this will last. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio says she has not had any contact with the national side’s management since making herself unavailable for selection last year. The 35-year-old revealed she has not spoken with head coach Dame Noeline Taurua since stepping away from the Ferns, a decision she made midway through 2025 in order to prioritise her physical and mental wellbeing. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than 60 percent of schools have adopted a new assessment and reporting policy, and many have no intention of using it. SMART launched in February, replacing a 20-year-old framework. It gives parents of year zero-to-10 students progress markers, and twice-yearly updates. Masterton’s Douglas Park School has signed up - with no plans to bring it in. Principal Gareth Sinton says he doubts the system lives up to its name. "But I just don't think we need to use a new tool, an overseas tool, that wasn't actually designed and developed for New Zealand kids when there are better options available inside our own country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is reviewing whether Kanye West should be allowed to enter the country after a major festival sparked outrage. Wireless Festival announced West as the headliner, causing several major brands to withdraw their sponsorships from the three-day event.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unlikely Kanye West will get approval, and the festival will need to book a new headliner. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert says it's important Auckland makes the most of what it has in terms of infrastructure, rather than daydreaming about future mega-projects. Infrastructure New Zealand is calling for more investment in Auckland's transport woes in order to boost the city's productivity.  CEO Nick Leggett says Auckland needs to unlock the right tools to make the most of the city - and said a congestion charge is needed to fund more infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The average sheep and beef farm is forecast to make double what they did last year - according to new projections.  The Mid-Season Update by Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Economic Service is forecasting an average profit before tax for 2025-26 of $287,600 per farm, following two difficult seasons for the sector. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Tō Waha Media's Carmen Parahi joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Tova O’Brien asked Prime Minister Chris Luxon how many Māori MPs are in the National Party portion of the Cabinet following the recent reshuffle. What do we make of this? Do we think this matters?  US President Donald Trump is warning the US military will obliterate Iranian power infrastructure and bridges within four hours, if Tehran doesn't agree to his deadline for a deal tomorrow. Do we think Trump will follow through on this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.