Larry Williams Drive

Health officials have outlined the dire state of Wellington Hospital’s overcrowded emergency department as reports show a third of patients are being treated in corridors. The information was revealed in a detailed business case for the refurbishment of the ED, published by Health New Zealand, which said the ED was 'clinically and culturally unsafe'. Health NZ's Jamie Duncan says the staff working in those areas are required to stay vigilant and keep an eye on people. "They're always taking observations as well and that's standard practice and standard care that you'd expect in any emergency department." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigations into Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips are far from over, after he was shot dead by police yesterday. The manhunt for Phillips and his three children stretched across four years. One of his children was with him at the scene, and the other two were found last night at a campsite in dense bush about two kilometres away. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says they're investigating possible accomplices in this case. "We're going to put a puzzle together, we're going to better understand the last four years - anybody who may have been helping him, supplying him with something." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The four-year long manhunt for Phillips and his three children ended early yesterday morning - when police shot and killed him in rural Waikato. One of his children was found with him, and the other two were located at a campsite in dense bush. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper said Police Commissioner Richard Chambers weighed in on the case during a 'sombre' press conference. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ's Australian parent recently announced a significant restructure, which would see about 3500 employees losing their jobs by September 2026. ANZ Group said it would also reduce engagements with consultants and other third parties as part of the restructure. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained the impact of the restructure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sporting fans across New Zealand will have a difficult decision to make on Saturday, with the Warriors’ opening NRL finals game set to clash with the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship test. The Warriors' week one finals game against the Panthers at Mt Smart kicks off at 6:05pm - one hour before the All Blacks host the Springboks in Wellington. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the backlash further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has outlined the next steps for Tom Phillips' children to recover after four years of isolation. The manhunt for Phillips and the children came to an end yesterday, when police shot and killed him in rural Waikato. One of his children was found with him, and the other two were located at a campsite in dense bush. Child psychologist Sara Chatwin says for the children to feel secure, they need consistent care and unconditional love. "Pretty much none of which these kids have had for a long time. And I'm not just talking four years, but prior to that, there was obviously some dispute." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in the UK were surprised by unexpected alarms from their phones in a test of the national emergency alert system. Yesterday, people's phones vibrated and sounded for about 10 seconds in the second test of the system. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent US payrolls data has indicated the economy is slowing, and it's sparked concern among investors. Economists are calling on the US Federal Reserve to lower interest rates  at its September 16-17 meeting, in what would be its first reduction in nine months. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist has raised concerns over NZ First's proposed reform for KiwiSaver contributions - and claimed they're not feasible. NZ First recently promised to make it compulsory and increase contributions from employers and workers to 10 percent - offset by a tax cut. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub says he approves of the idea of a compulsory scheme, but warns we can't afford a tax-funded one. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First is backing major changes to KiwiSaver ahead of the election and it's sparked discussion about what this could mean going forward. The party's announced it will campaign on compulsory employee and employer contributions rising to 10 percent, to be offset with tax cuts. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this will likely be a significant issue ahead of the election, but she's voiced concerns about the tax cuts. "For context, our tax package that we delivered after the election was $3.7 billion - so that is a heck of a lot of tax cuts. So the question then becomes - how do we fund that?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 8 September 2025, the tragic story of the missing Tom Phillips and his kids has come to a close today. The kids are with authorities, Tom Phillips is dead and a police officer critically injured. Police Minister Mark Mitchell and former police negotiator Lance Burdett speak with Heather as the situation unfolded. It was a terrible weekend for Labour, with an embarrassing overwhelming by-election loss and the defection of former Labour MP Stuart Nash to New Zealand First. The Ministry of Education has doubled its pay offer to secondary school teachers, but they won't have a bar of it. Plus, the Huddle reflects on the sad end to the Tom Phillips story and whether getting Stuart Nash on board is a coup for New Zealand First. 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.

Stuart Nash turning up at the conference over the weekend - that was quite a coup for New Zealand First. Now, clearly what New Zealand First is trying to do is emulate what Reform - Nigel Farage's party - in the UK is doing.  If you've been following what they're up to, they have had a huge number of politicians defect to Reform. And every single time it happens, the news media covers it and it makes Reform look like the party with the momentum. That is what New Zealand First is trying to do. That's why you had both Stuart Nash, formerly of Labour, and Harete Hipango, formerly of National, at the conference over the weekend. Now, despite the circumstances of Stuart leaving Parliament, he's actually a really big defection from Labour because he's a very capable politician. He managed to turn Napier into a red seat in 2014, despite the popularity of the Key Government at the time. He was one of the few ministers in the Ardern administration that voters on the right actually had time for. He is, and I think

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion following the issue of the day - and more! The Tom Phillips saga has been eventful - what did we make of all this? Stuart Nash has switched over to NZ First and Labour lost big to Te Pati Māori in the Tamaki Makaurau by-election. What does this all mean for Labour?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The secondary school teachers union is confident its members will take its advice and reject the Government's latest agreement offer.  It almost doubles the pay increase included in their last offer, but the union says it's unevenly spread across the teaching workforce and sits below inflation.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says teachers can vote any way they want, but the National Executive's recommending sending the offer back. "The conversations I have this year with teachers and continue to have is that this doesn't meet what they need - what they see happening every single day in schools." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The children of fugitive Tom Phillips are still missing.  The Marokopa father was shot dead by police in the early hours of this morning, following a burglary in Waikato's Piopio.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he's confident the police will find and recover the children. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race is on to track down the two missing children of Marokopa man Tom Phillips before the end of the day. Phillips was shot dead earlier today by police, following a burglary in Waikato's Piopio. Former police negotiator Lance Burdett says the fact they're children will make the hunt so much tougher for police.  "They'll be panicking, probably,  and it's unpredictable. They won't stick to tracks and trails...so they could be all over the place." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has voiced concerns about the missing children of Marokopa man Tom Phillips. Phillips was shot dead by police this morning, concluding a four-year manhunt, but two of his children are belived to be unaccompanied in the bush.  Luxon hasn't been briefed on any specific locations the police think the children might be. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon's reflected on the concerns the country must be feeling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Triple murderer Erin Patterson will have maximum security in jail due to risks from other prisoners. The 50-year-old's been jailed for life with a non-parole period of 33 years, after feeding her in-laws beef Wellingtons laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms in 2023. Patterson's also been sentenced for the attempted murder of the sole survivor of the lunch - Ian Wilkinson. Australia correspondent Oliver Peterson says Patterson faces 22 hours of solitary confinement a day for the next three decades. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public scrutiny is off All Blacks coach Scott Robertson - for a few days, at least. His side have arrived in Wellington, fresh from snapping a four-test losing streak over the Springboks and preserving a 31-year unbeaten run at Eden Park. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further ahead of the second clash in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of police resources have been deployed to try and find Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips' two missing children before it gets dark - after he was shot dead by an officer in the Waikato this morning. A quad bike being ridden by him and one of his children was stopped by police spikes after a burglary in Piopio. An approaching officer was then shot multiple times, including in the head, and is receiving surgery on his eye. A second officer arrived at the scene and shot the gunman dead.  Newstalk ZB reporter Jordan Dunn says the authorities will be conducting this search 'meticulously' and 'strategically', as there's a good chance the missing children aren't alone. "They do say that there's a good chance they're alone, but the key there is that they're not making assumptions. They're going out there as if there is the possibility that they are being aided." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.