Larry Williams Drive

R360 has reacted to the eight nations who have agreed to ban any players defecting to the rebel rugby competition. They've claimed this new league is designed to work around the global calendar...not against it. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 300 people are being made to re-sit their practical driving test - following fraud allegations at an Auckland VTNZ. Police and NZTA are looking into claims testing officers at the Highbrook branch took money in return for passing applicants, over several years.   Five officers have been sacked for misconduct - and the branch has stopped offering tests in the meantime. Transparency International NZ executive director Julie Haggie says they need to figure out how this was possible. "Behaviour and the training and the culture that was existing and whether any of those things had an impact on people feeling like - I can get away with it. And they have felt like they can get away with it and make profit out of it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK police say they've cracked down on an international gang suspected of  smuggling up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China over the last year. In what authorities claim is the UK's largest ever operation against phone thefts, 18 suspects have been arrested and more than 2,000 stolen devices discovered. UK correspondent Enda Brady reveals more about this case. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade Minister Todd McClay has confirmed trade negotiations with India are progressing - but there's still a ways to go. New Zealand and Indian trade negotiators met in Queenstown last month for a third round of formal negotiations for a free trade agreement. The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! NZ Post today revealed they'll be cutting services down, including fewer delivery days and fewer post offices. Do we mind this change? Who still sends post?  Winston Peters' home got vandalised last night - is this a sign the protests have gone too far? More than 200 people will be elected unopposed at this weekend’s local elections. Is this ridiculous? Do we need an overhaul?   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need to talk about why we're persisting with having so many local body politicians. We clearly have too many positions, don't we? I mean, just look at how many people are winning their seats at the moment. The elections are this weekend - look at how many people are winning their seats without any elections, without anybody standing against them. With more than 200, that's 1 in every 7 council races. So Hurunui already has its mayor, even though the elections are this weekend. It's Marie Black, no one's standing against her. Manawatū already has its mayor, Michael Ford, no one's standing against him. There are more than 80 councillors who are already elected across the country, there are several on the Southland Regional Council already elected. Lower Hutt, Southland, Buller, Stratford, Marlborough councils, two of Auckland's councils already elected - unopposed - as well as 3 of Christchurch's. There are also empty seats that no one wants to fill in community boards in the Rotorua Lakes, New Plymouth

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 7 October 2025, Palestine protestor Acacia O'Connor says she doesn't regret making Winston Peters' home address public, despite a person smashing his window as a result. Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill wins his bet with Heather - and calls off a restructure of rural police. Lawyers of a class action lawsuit against ANZ are calling on the Government to walk back retrospective banking reform. It comes after ASB agreed to settle their own dispute for more than $135 million . Former All Black Mils Muliaina has joined the Auckland Business Chamber to become its first Pasifika director - he tells Heather about the Pasifika economy. Plus, the Huddle debates whether we should cut the number of elected local body politicians after news that 1 in 7 candidates will get the job unopposed. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESe

Former All Black Mils Muliaina is set to trade rugby fields for the boardroom as he steps into his new role. He recently joined the Auckland Business Chamber board, becoming its first Pasifika director in the organisation's history. Mils Muliaina says this new role came to him as a surprise, but he's welcoming the new opportunity.  "I'm supposed to provide a voice for the communities, especially for the Pacific community, in finance and insurance and I suppose economic matters. So I'm pretty chuffed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASB has agreed to pay $135.6 million to settle a class action after it was accused of breaching its disclosure obligations under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. The case against ASB alleged failures to provide compliant written disclosure of loan variations to a significant number of customers. ANZ is still hanging on as the remaining defendant of the class action. Scott Russell, the lawyer representing bank customers in the class action, says the lawsuit against ANZ hasn't been dropped. "We remain fully committed to our claim against ANZ...ANZ customers deserve a positive outcome similar to that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Post is moving to review its offerings amid a recent move to cut back on services. A new Government agreement will let it close almost 400 postal outlets, and reduce mail deliveries. They'll now only be required two times a week for most areas, down from three - and can fall from at least five times weekly in rural areas, to three. NZ Post CEO David Walsh says these changes reflect New Zealand's changing communication habits. "Our role is to deliver the services New Zealanders need - we'll keep delivering mail and we'll have to respond to the circumstances we're facing, but that's our job." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More vets across New Zealand are reporting a surge in poor behaviour from customers, particularly over billing. New reports claim staff in customer facing roles are experiencing pet owners trying to emotionally blackmail vets over rising costs. NZ Veterinary Association CEO Kevin Bryant says costs are going up everywhere, and customers are taking this out on staff "There's a huge amount of confusion in the public arena between the fact that we have a heavily subsidised human health system and a totally unsubsidised animal health system, and I think that's definitely part of it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Minister's reiterated his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza on the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel.  Winston Peters addressed Parliament this afternoon, also calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas, and for Israel to allow aid into Gaza unimpeded.  Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper says Peters went on to defend the Government's call to not recognise a Palestinian state amid ongoing backlash from the opposition.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A protester who shared Winston Peters' address on social media says she's only protested outside once.  Actress Acacia O'Connor has been criticised by the Greens for sharing the address - and she's lost her contract for ads for telco One NZ.  She says she doesn't know the person who smashed a window at the Foreign Minister's home last night O'Connor says it's likely protests will continue. She says she's so sorry to hear Peters' home was damaged - but she's asking him to help Palestinians whose homes are being bombed every day.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man who allegedly sprayed up to 50 bullets on police in Sydney’s inner west has been charged with a string of offences. Artemios Mintzas, 60, allegedly shot 'indiscriminately' at passing vehicles, including police vehicles in Croydon Park on Sunday evening. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says police revealed there were no drugs involved, nor a clear ideology.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silver Ferns interim netball coach Yvette McCausland-Durie is adamant she has no ambitions for the permanent gig. She still wants the role to remain short-term after stepping in for the South African series. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury police will keep monitoring demand in rural areas, after shelving a proposed restructure. It would've replaced some permanent officers, with staff working at 24/7 hubs in Rolleston and Rangiora. Many of the thousand submissions supported the idea, but it was rejected by affected communities. Canterbury District Commander Tony Hill says the feedback showed police can meet demand with current staff. "We just questioned whether we've got them in the right places - what we've seen from our people is some really good suggestions about how we might deploy those, to actually meet that without disrupting people in their roles." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government has announced the police will be given powers to put conditions on repeat protests. This follows last weekend's pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, which saw almost 500 people arrested. UK correspondent Gail Downey explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week saw the release of some weak economic data out of the US and it's got investors speculating. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission has ruled out an inquiry into airport regulation, for now. Air New Zealand had written to the regulator, saying there was enough 'accumulated evidence and concern' to justify a probe. The Commission has done a 'short, targeted review'. Air New Zealand Head of Regulatory Affairs Kristy McKay revealed why she's pleased with this outcome. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is it a good idea for the Government to show young people some tough love when it comes to the benefit? Do we think this is the way forward? And is the income threshold too low? Winston Peters is firing back after groups of protesters kept showing up outside his house. Can new legislation fix this? Former Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr is set to receive a $416,000 payout. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.