Larry Williams Drive

Flat whites are out and iced coffees are in - and there's a wide range of factors behind this change. Cafes across the nation have noticed an uptick in younger customers reaching for cold drinks over hot. Flight Coffee co-founder Richard Corney says there's been a rise in people buying iced drinks, as well as chilled RTD coffees. "I don't have stats off the top of my head in terms of value now, but we've definitely seen a big consumer shift in how coffee's being consumed - mainly lead by Gen Z."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The alarm's being raised on sextortion, and ways young people can get help. A Coroner's found an 18-year-old took his life hours after sharing intimate images with someone pretending to be a young Timaru woman. The scammer - who was later traced to Africa - demanded $5000 and threatened to share their conversation. Netsafe's Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons says young people should ask parents or others for support. He says the last thing they should do is hide it. "Because it is that shame, it is that horror that's on many young people - and specifically, the young and their vulnerability." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over whether both parties are serious about achieving a ceasefire in Iran. The pause appears shaky - with Iran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed in response to Israel's deadly attacks on Lebanon. The US maintains the ceasefire never applied to Hezbollah. Negotiations on a longer-term peace agreement are expected in Pakistan this week - attended by US Vice President JD Vance. CBS Correspondent Linda Gradstein says there've been positive developments. "Many are hoping, you know, the ceasefire kind of takes on a life of its own and it holds. And, that's what we've seen in Gaza, even though there is still fighting in Gaza." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says all US forces in the Middle East are staying in place and loading up until a 'real agreement' is reached.  The two-week ceasefire announced yesterday appears fragile - and Iran's keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed in response to Israel's continued deadly attacks on Lebanon.  Negotiations on a longer-term peace agreement are expected in Pakistan this week.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has criticised the ten-point plan - and concerns have been raised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is one of the world leaders calling for Lebanon to be included in the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. Both countries agreed to pause their hostilities and allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but uncertainty's growing as the pair disagree over key aspects. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese is set to depart for Singapore for talks based around the ongoing supply chain crisis for oil.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby needs a new face to lead its high-performance system, and there's plenty of speculation about who it might be. New reports indicate former Black Sox coach Don Tricker will pick up the role. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.