Larry Williams Drive

Australia could be making it easier for Kiwis to become citizens across the ditch.Anthony Albanese has announced a range of reviews into policies affecting New Zealanders living in Australia, including pathways to citizenship, voting rights of residents, and deportations, and changes are expected to come by Anzac Day next year.Christopher Luxon has taken a crack at businesses.While in the UK, Luxon has labelled businesses as 'soft' for turning to the Government for answers.Newstalk ZB Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The community of Highland Park, Illinois, is in mourning days after a gunman opened fire, killing seven and wounding dozens more, as the suspect's father revealed in an interview with the New York Post that he wants his son to serve a long prison sentence.Yellow barricade tape stretched down the sidewalks along Central Avenue, the main route for the Fourth of July parade that was shattered by gunfire. Authorities said the gunman fired a semi-automatic rifle from a business rooftop at crowds below before fleeing the scene.Robert E. Crimo III, 21, who was arrested later Monday in connection with the shooting in suburban Chicago, admitted to authorities he was the gunman, prosecutors alleged Wednesday during a court hearing where a judge denied Crimo bond.He faces seven counts of first-degree murder and a sentence of life in prison, if convicted. Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011."I want a long sentence," the suspect's father, Robert Crimo Jr., said, according to a report by the Post. "That's life. Y

This announcement out of Australia today could potentially change everything for Kiwis living over there.Aussie PM Anthony Albanese has announced that he’s prepared to make it easier for Kiwis to become citizens in Australia. This is the root of heaps of the problems that we have with the Aussies: the fact that Kiwis can’t become citizens easily.It’s why they don’t get welfare if they lose their jobs over there, even though they’ve paid their taxes, why they don’t get sickness benefits, why they can’t vote, why they haven’t automatically qualified for flood assistance in the past, and why they get deported. Because they’re bot citizens. And they’re not citizens because if Kiwis move over there, there is no way to become a citizen.The visa that the vast majority of Kiwis move over there under doesn’t allow that.And hasn’t since 2001.Obviously, the devil will be in the detail. There is none yet. They’re going to work it out with a view to implementing it by Anzac Day next year.And obviously, it’s not idiot-proo

A review has found water in the Wellington region hasn't been fluoridated properly for at least six years.The report, which has been made public this afternoon, said fluoridation for oral health was not a priority within Wellington Water - which has apologised for the failings.This was partly due to weak regulatory settings.Regulation has focused on the safety of drinking water and only ensured it was never over-dosed with fluoride, the report found.The independent inquiry was launched following revelations the water company turned off fluoride at two plants last year without telling the board, councils, or residents.But the investigation by consultancy firm MartinJenkins has revealed the extent of Wellington's fluoride failure reaches far beyond the point of facilities being turned off.Since July 2016, on average, fluoridation has been administered effectively just 20 per cent of the time at Te Mārua and Gear Island treatment plants.These plants, plagued by ageing and unreliable fluoride infrastructure, supp

New Zealand has long history of struggling to get people to work in our hospitality sector.There have been called for the government to make it easier to bring in migrant labour, because businesses are struggling to hire despite offering good pay.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has underlined New Zealand's commitment to maintaining "truly independent foreign policy", in a world that's "bloody messy".Delivering a speech at an event hosted by the Lowy Institute – a prestigious Sydney-based foreign affairs think tank – Ardern discussed how New Zealand is managing its various economic and geopolitical relationships.Rumours have been swirling that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a second tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.Last week, the Sussexes and a friend were spotted driving to the talk show host's Montecito house, according to The Daily Mail.Neale Jones and Trish Sherson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The HuddleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury Sports reader Nick Bewley joined Heather du Plessis-Alan to chat about the good and the bad of the Commonwealth games. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has long history of struggling to get people to work in our hospitality sector.There have been called for the government to make it easier to bring in migrant labour, because businesses are struggling to hire despite offering good pay.But, AUT School of Hospitality professor David Williamson told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's not just about the right pay rate.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's host Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the climate change commissions advice.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Editor Liam Dann joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the Reserve Banks next move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know inflation's the talk of the town at the moment. But most key drivers, such as food, are falling sharply. So where does that leave us? Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss interest rate predictions. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern warned the UN has failed in its response to the Ukraine war - during a speech at a Sydney-based foreign affairs think-tank today.At the Lowry Institute, Ardern blamed the fault on the position taken by Russia in the Security Council.Democracy Project's Geoffrey Miller told Heather du Plessis-Allan New Zealand has taken the position for a long-time the UN needs reform.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political editor Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss Jacinda Ardern's Foreign Affairs speech in Sydney.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The money being spent on the government's new supermarket watchdog's being questioned. Commerce and consumer affairs minister David Clark says he expects kiwis will save a lot of money as a result of the new role. Community leader and founder of Brown Butterbean Motivation, Dave Letele told Heather du Plessis-Allan this sort of bureaucracy isn't where the money needs to be going right now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m starting to quite like labour MP Paul Eagle as a result of the spat he’s just had with the Wellington City Council. Paul eagle is the MP taking leave from parliament to run for mayor. He’s stuck a bunch of ‘VOTE EAGLE’ digital billboards up around the city ahead of the election in October  But the social media warriors have got angry. They reckon the billboards shouldn’t be up this early because they’re only allowed up six weeks before the election  So, they complained to the Wellington City Council. The council contacted Paul and told him to take them down. He refused. And he told the media he was refusing. He was unequivocal.  Turns out, He’s right. The council is wrong.  Either they don’t’ know their own rules or they do but they tried to get one over him. Because that six-week rule only applies to the plastic hoardings you see on the side of the road and not billboards. And there’s more, this has been done before. Nick Legget ran for mayor back in 2016. He had his face on buildings and busses as early

A Lower Hutt four square is taking on the capital's top eateries in this year's Wellington on a plate foodie festival.  Kelson four square is entering the high-profile event with its very own chicken burger for the first time in August.  Falgoon Patel joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to dicuss their Wellington on a plate submission.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government has dropped the prosecution case against lawyer Bernard Collaery.The previous government charged Collaery with leaking information about the Australian government bugging East Timor government offices.Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Heather du Plessis-Allan the leaked information was about the carve up of a gas field between East Timor and Australia.He says a lot of people think it was an embarrassing spell for the Australian government.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One in four kindergarten age children have sub-optimal developmental health.That's the latest research finding from the long-term Growing up in New Zealand study.The four-and-a-half-year-olds at a social and economic disadvantage, Maori and Pasifika children are more likely to be in that category.Lead author Dr Jin Russell told Heather Du Plessis-Allan there needs to be investment in children's early years.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end is possibly near for Boris Johnson as two senior staffers call it quits.Underwater drones have been caught smuggling drugs from northern Africa into Spain.Wimbledon players and coaches have been maxing out their food allowances.UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well that’s got to be it then.77 percent of submitters want the Christchurch City Council to push ahead with the stadium as it is, never mind the cost. So I’d say that’s the decision made then.Looks to me like the Council has been sent a very clear message. They had more than 30,000 submissions on the stadium.That’s a huge amount of engagement. It’s the highest since the post-earthquake Share an Idea campaign in 2012.And that tells you people care deeply about this.And why they care I’d say is because they’re tired of all the dawdling and indecision.It’s been 11 years since the earthquake. This thing should’ve been built years ago. I read an editorial in the local paper today that said: “Christchurch should waste no more time and get cracking on building such a stadium.”That was written in August 2017. Five years ago. People are tired of waiting for this. Yes $683 million is expensive, and yes it’ll probably end up more even more expensive. If it’s like any other big project anywhere in the country it’ll blow

Business confidence has taken a dive this week.But what does mean for the Reserve Bank's decision on the OCR next week?The main issue for the Reserve Bank, however, is inflation.Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.