Larry Williams Drive

Spark and Parenting Place have launched an online course designed to help parents navigate social media. New research has revealed over one third parents feel out of their depth, and nearly one in five have to navigate meltdowns or arguments in order to manage devices. Parenting Place coach Sheridan Eketone says many parents have claimed they're feeling 'overwhelmed' with the new developments in social media and this course will help them manage the risks. "It gives all the perspectives, so we're gonna unpack with a parent - what are the risks? How do we keep them safe? What do we need to think about on screentime? How much is too much?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing speculation over Keir Starmer's future as Labour leader - especially with the local elections looming. Labour faces losing more than 1,800 council seats across England, including in key areas that have supported the party for decades. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unknown who could replace Starmer, but there's some choices being floated.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has lifted the country's Official Cash Rate 25 basis points, to 4.35 percent.  The move was expected by economists and financial markets, fearing the Middle East oil crisis could worsen inflation before it gets better. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explained the move further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 5 May, 2026, we hear from Local Government Minister Simon Watts on an ultimatum to councils to amalgamate or the Government will do it for them. ACT leader David Seymour explains why he wants pharmacists to treat more illnesses and prescribe antibiotics. We hear why services to treat kidney disease are stretched throughout the country. And on The Huddle, Carmen Parahi and Jordan Williams debate whether it's good for schools to let children do a "fun run" instead of cross-country. 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.

Despite the mounting concerns about the economy and the ongoing Middle East conflict, New Zealand's rural sector is booming. Reports reveal farm worker pay growth has levelled off after a post-Covid period of rapid growth. The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So at lunchtime today, I was catching up with one of our advertisers just across the road, having a cup of tea. He owns a health-adjacent business and we got chatting about community pharmacies - like the one I go to - and what they can do to survive at a time when the big players, like Chemist Warehouse, are taking over. I said to him that I feel community pharmacies need a real unique selling point. You can get almost everything you want from anywhere now, right? I think they need permission to do more prescribing themselves - that’s what will make them relevant again. Most of us would choose to go to our local pharmacy for a prescription if we could, rather than trying to get in to see our GPs, who are chocka and often unavailable, or standing in a queue with 25 other people at Chemist Warehouse. Instead, you’d walk into your local pharmacy and be one of two people in line. And just as I picked up my phone to leave this tea date, an alert came through: Seymour says pharmacists should treat more so you don’

Tonight on The Huddle, Tō Waha Media's Carmen Parahi and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Schools across Canterbury are splitting the athletic pupils from the rest of the pack by having the faster children run the cross country - and the others doing the fun-run. Do we think this is the right move, or are we encouraging kids to lose?  ACT wants pharmacists to take on more medical services in order to alleviate the pressure on the health system. Do we think this is the right move?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac's CEO says they have noticed changing customer habits in the backdrop of a tougher economy. The bank's half-year profit is up four percent, with its net profit rising to $545 million dollars. It's down 19 percent on the previous six months. CEO Catherine McGrath says businesses are getting good at controlling what they can. "There's a little bit less money being spent on things like hospitality and retail spend - with businesses, some of them are pausing a bit on whether they want to do their expansion plans." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A grievous assault involving dirt-bike riders in East Auckland has prompted a warning from the local board and police.  Footage circulating online shows a motorist being cut off and swarmed at the intersection of Pakuranga and Fortunes Roads - and getting attacked as he tried to get away. Howick Local Board Chair Bruce Kendall says this is a symptom of an international phenomenon of people being reckless. "They end up in a bit of a mob mentality and they end up doing some pretty bad things. And I don't know how this situation got to this particular point - I've only seen the video from the point that the car is stopped...and it looks pretty dangerous to me."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cross-country running can be hard on Kiwi kids who aren't athletic, and some Canterbury schools have proposed an alternative solution. They're splitting the race in two, where the athletic kids will run the standard cross-country race and the ones who aren't as excited about running will take part in the 'fun-run'. Primary Sports Canterbury sports director Michael Wilson says meaningful participation is important for education and development.  "Just like in the classroom, you don't give the same book to every child - so we think having multiple opportunities for kids to participate is a good thing."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope that the ACT Party's latest election promise will alleviate pressure on the wider health sector. David Seymour recently announced ACT would expand pharmacists' powers, including letting them treat more minor ailments, manage long-term medications and monitor some conditions. Seymour says most of the world is looking to better utilise their health professionals to take the load off GPs and Emergency Departments.  "What's happened around the world is that pharmacists have got much greater use of robotic prescribing, so there's a lot less - as one pharmacist said to me - counting and pouring. And as a result, all of these countries are starting to make greater use of having a pretty well-trained health professional, usually in your community."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Local Government Minister says a pathway's been made for councils to fast-track reform - because they're raring to go.   The Government's announced councils have three months to submit rough merger plans, for becoming unitary authorities.  In November it said it would abolish regional councillors, and reform local Government over a number of years, while encouraging district councils to merge.   Simon Watts says councils have been so receptive, they've invited them to fast track it.  "I don't want to set the pace of this reform by the slowest council - actually, the opposite, we want the ones that are ready to go to have a pathway to do that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RMA Reform Minister says simplifying our councils is a crucial part of changes to Resource Management.  The Government's today announced a fast-track amalgamation process - asking councils to submit proposals for merging with neighbours to form unitary authorities.  They have three months to submit a rough plan. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what this could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 47 year old Australian man accused of killing a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs has been remanded in custody.  Jefferson Lewis was due to appear by video link but was excused, and the case adjourned until July 30.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained why this was put on hold.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don Tricker will return to New Zealand Rugby on a permanent basis as the governing body's high performance director. He'll start in November, once he's finished commitments with the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half of all renal services nationally are operating above capacity, with Auckland services operating at 150 percent. According to the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry survey for 2025, there's a shortage of units, meaning more people are missing out on essential care. Kidney Health NZ general manager Madi Keay says hospitals are turning to 'band-aid' solutions, including offering shifts at off-peak time slots. "We're seeing a range of other solutions being proposed, but really, we want to be providing better resourcing so people can dialyse within the adequate service times."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three people have died as a result of a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the WHO. The outbreak was reported aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, and there's five more suspected cases under investigation. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the World Health Organisation is working to co-ordinate matters on board the ship.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has floated the idea of the US guiding neutral ships out through the Strait of Hormuz, and it's made an impact on the oil markets. The Brent oil price was little changed above $108 a barrel, after falling as much as 2.4 percent at the open - below last week's $118 high. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Critics of the Government's new draft curriculum have raised concerns that it's skipped over some key areas, and the Education Minister is looking to clear things up. Earlier, Auckland University's Darren Powell earlier claimed knowledge vital for students' understanding of mental heath, food and nutrition and sexual education is absent from the draft. Erica Stanford says the curriculum covers health, wellness, tolerance and consent, and the Government was very careful in planning this out. "Everything in the curriculum, all the way up, is about mental health and building resilient kids and doing it in a wonderfully positive way. It is a wonderful curriculum and it just indicates to me, frankly, that a lot of these people who are speaking out have not actually read the curriculum."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Educators have raised concerns with the Government's planned changes to school curriculums - what do we make of the backlash? Did we need these changes to fix declining achievement rates? Do the teachers have a point? Judith Collins has claimed people don't like strong women in a recent interview with Audrey Young. Do we think this is really an issue?   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.