Larry Williams Drive

Ian Foster's job as All Black's coach might be safe - for now.The All Blacks put in a strong performance in their 42-19 victory over Ireland on Saturday, and while it wasn't the perfect performance, it was enough to silence the critics for the weekend.It was the perfect homecoming for the Warriors.The struggling side snapped their 7-game losing run with a 22-2 victory over the Wests Tigers in front of a packed Mt Smart.Newstalk ZB sports reader Adam Cooper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, that’s a rubbish free trade deal.I think we can accept that as fact given pretty much everyone who knows anything about what they’re talking about is unimpressed with it.Meat and dairy have been shafted. There is nothing to celebrate in this for them.Beef exporters are only allowed to provide 0.1 percent of the meat that Europeans eat.Cheese exporters are only allowed to provide 0.14 percent of the cheese they eat.If meat and dairy are not happy, this is a rubbish deal, because these guys are our big hitters in this country. They make up about 40 percent of our exporters between them.Some with skin in the game will be happy with what they’ve got overnight – kiwifruit for example – but fruit only makes up 5 percent of our exports. So for everyone, it’s actually rats and mice.The question actually here is not whether or not this is a good deal, because it isn’t, but whether we should’ve signed it. I don’t think we should’ve.I went to bed last night convinced we weren’t going to sign this deal for all the

A Danish Parliament-appointed commission has harshly criticized the country's government for its decision to cull millions of healthy mink at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to protect humans from a mutation of the virus.The 2020 decision to wipe out Denmark's entire captive mink population had stirred strong controversy, particularly as the necessary legislation to allow such a drastic move was put in place more than a month after the cull had started.In its report released Thursday, the commission said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was “grossly misleading” during a Nov. 4 press conference when she announced that all mink — infected and healthy animals alike — should be culled. The report also criticized other top Danish officials.The culling of up to 17 million animals was ordered after a mutated version of the coronavirus was found in farms in northern Denmark and infected 11 people. Although there was no evidence that the mutated version was more dangerous, the government said it moved proactive

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived Thursday in Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British handover of a city that his rule has transformed from a global hub known for its political freedoms to one that is much more tightly controlled by the Communist Party.In a staged event carried live on Chinese TV, students and others lined the platform of a high-speed rail station and packed a red carpet to greet the leader making his first trip outside of mainland China in nearly 2 ½ years — a choice that underscored Hong Kong's ever-closer ties to the mainland. Waving small red Chinese and Hong Kong flags, the students chanted “Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!” while city leader Carrie Lam greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.Under Xi's leadership, China has reshaped Hong Kong, cracking down on protests, imposing a strict national security law used to silence dissent, introducing a more "patriotic" curriculum in schools, and revamping election laws to keep opposition politicians out of the city’s Legislatu

New Zealand and the EU has signed a free trade agreement.The Government say this will grow exports to the EU by $1.8 billion a year by 2035.However, meat and dairy aren't happy with it, given how much they are allowed to provide Europe from their respective sectors.Business commentator Rod Oram joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank has said the tide has turned against housing being a one-way bet for investment.And once again, the central bank is also predicting a drop in house prices.This time, they're predicting a drop of around 15 percent.Housing commentator Ashley Church joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks' first test of the year takes place this weekend against Ireland.The team will be without Will Jordan, David Havili, Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown, Akira Ioane and Ethan Blackadder to Covid, with Scott Barrett forced to play at No 6 this weekend.The Irish have won the last 3 out of 5 tests, but the All Blacks remain unbeaten at Eden Park for 28 years.The Warriors are making their long-awaited homecoming.After over 1000 days, the team return to Mt Smart to face the Tigers, but without Reece Walsh due to Covid.The White Ferns have had to bring back Lea Tahuhu.Tahuhu and Claudia Green will join the squad for the Commonwealth Games after Lauren Down and Jess Kerr were ruled out with injury and mental health.Scotty Stevenson and Matt Brown joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week's sports newsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks play Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday in their first test of the year.Recent results favour the Irish with 3 wins out of the last 5 against the All Blacks, but Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand.To make it even harder for the Irish, the All Blacks still haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994.Irish rugby commentator Michael Corcoran joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countdown has decided to start phasing out single-use plastic produce bags.They're the bags used to pick up fruit and vegetables in the produce section in supermarkets.They'll start this process by trialling in a selection of stores.Countdown spokesperson Pieter de Wet joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOUTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders say it's fair for the dairy and meat sectors to be disappointed in the new free trade agreement.It's been struck between the EU and New Zealand, but dairy and meat will still face tariffs and much lower quotas than they hoped for.NZ International Business Forum's Stephen Jacobi told Heather du Plessis-Allan the EU simply isn't willing to open its market to those sectors but a call needs to be made whether the deal's enough.“And really, you’d have to be on the ground to work out whether they’ve made the right call or not, but however you look at it, it’s certainly not very good for our dairy and meat sectors.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assurances health services won't be disrupted in the middle of a winter rush as the system restructures.The nation's 20 District Health Boards were officially scrapped today to make way for one centralised agency – Health New Zealand.The Maori Health Authority has also launched, and will be responsible for ensuring the system works well for Tangata Whenua.Meanwhile, hospital emergency departments countrywide report unprecedented demand.Health New Zealand top boss Margie Apa told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's a tough winter and there are a few more months to go.“One of the things I’ve done is kept some of the current leadership structure for another three to six months so that people who are running frontline services still have the right people supporting them.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has struck an FTA with the EU.The Government say this will grow exports to the EU to $1.8 billion a year by 2035, but the meat industry says we've got a raw deal from it, while the dairy sector hasn't fared much better.Some clarity on Ihumatao.The Government stepped in to buy the land from Fletcher back in 2020, and today Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson has appointed two crown representatives to the Steering Committee that will determine Ihumatao's future.Newstalk ZB Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court curbed the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, a major defeat for the Biden administration's attempts to slash emissions at a moment when scientists are sounding alarms about the accelerating pace of global warming.In addition, the court cut back agency authority in general invoking the so-called "major questions" doctrine -- a ruling that will impact the federal government's authority to regulate in other areas of climate policy, as well as regulation of the internet and worker safety.The decision issued Thursday will send shockwaves across the federal government, threatening agency action that comes without clear congressional authorization.The ruling was 6-3. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the conservative majority, with the three liberal justices dissenting. Roberts said that "our precedent counsels skepticism toward EPA's claim" that the law "empowers it to devise carbon emissions caps based on a ge

The All Blacks' test series with Ireland kicks off tomorrow night and it couldn't be tighter.Although recent history favours the Irish, with 3 wins from the last 5, the All Blacks haven't been beaten at Eden Park for 28 years.The Warriors make their long-waited homecoming these weekend.It's been over 1000 days since the team played at Mt Smart and are playing the Tigers in front of a sellout crowd.Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stratford District Council has introduced a targeted rate for forestry plantation owners to repair damaged roads.It says the roads can't cope with large trucks and owners should be doing their part on upkeep.District Council Mayor Neil Volzke told Heather du Plessis Allan there's a huge amount of damage happening.“An example recently was one small wooden bridge that had the signs taken off it by logging vehicles. That repair alone is $100,000 worth.”NZ Forestry Taranaki Representative Cameron Eyre says it's clumsily put together, inaccurate and they're disappointed.He says they harvest trees once every 28 years.“Yeah it’s causing damage. The council’s happily taken our rates for 25 years and done nothing with the road.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we be outraged at Geoff Ross for their farming techniques?The entrepreneur has been labelled woke for his sheep shearing techniques on his carbon-zero Lake Hawea farm.These include having sheep bouncing on mattresses and playing classical music while shearing.The Country host Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Herald journalist Megan Wood has reported she has had to see private tuition after learning her 9-year-old son couldn’t read.It comes as our literacy rates have significantly dropped off since changing learning to read from phonics to word association in 1970.Epidemiologist Michael Baker has suggested isolation for the flu and treat the disease similar to Covid with recovery.    He says we need to promote an environment where people are supported to not go into work if they are sick.A Kiwi farmer has copped a lot of backlash for his Country Calendar appearance.Entrepreneur Geoff Ross’ Lake Hawea farm has been labelled as woke for his innovations with shearing sheep, including classical music and white walls for shearing.Cas Carter and Tim Beveridge joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on The HuddleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Charles has denied any wrongdoing in accepting money as a charity donation from a Qatari politician.Cocaine smugglers have been bribing port staff.Captain Tom Moore's charity will face a formal inquiry over management concerns.UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The investing landscape has changed pretty dramatically over the last 12 months.This time last year, global inflation was running at around 2 percent, central banks talking raising interest rates wasn't on the cards and global stock market volatility was low.Today, inflation is running at 9 percent, interest rates have gone up 6 times in the US and the market is expecting another 8, and volatility is around 4 times higher.Fisher Funds Senior Portfolio Manager Sam Dickie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist Megan Wood says she’s having to pay $120 a week if she wants her 8-year-old son to be able to read.She’s gone to private tuition after trying for two years to work out why her son wasn’t picking literacy up in school.Megan Wood joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.