Larry Williams Drive

New research shows that businesses are losing faith in the Commerce Commission. The New Zealand Initiative has surveyed a number of businesses and found that fewer than thirty per cent of them thought the Commission was meeting the required standard. New Zealand Initiative chair Roger Partridge conducted the study. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Gloriavale the new Russia of the NZ Ag Sector? Silver Fern Farms has announced it will no longer be working with the Gloriavale Christian community after the Employment Court found they were making kids work. It's National Lamb Day! Lamb NZ is celebrating 140 years since the first shipment of frozen New Zealand lamb and mutton landed in London, 98 days after embarking from Port Chalmers on 15 February 1882, on the sailing ship Dunedin. Host of the Country Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're seeing a bit of a bidding war for Pushpay... The NZ-invented digital collection plate service that's taken off in Evangelical churches in the US. Shares shot up 17 cents ... 13.7 percent after a trading halt was lifted this afternoon. Pattrick Smellie from Businessdesk joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden has warned China is "flirting with danger" when it comes to Taiwan. The US President has warned his country will intervene with military force if China attacks Taiwan.  Biden was speaking from Tokyo at the Quad Summit with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India.  Robert Ayson, professor for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How refreshing was Ron Mark this morning? He’s been over in Ukraine with a Christian organisation called the Great Commission Society to see the war for himself and try to convince us back home to do more. He thinks we’ve taken too long to start sending military help and it’s not gone down well internationally. First of all, we only wanted to send humanitarian help like blankets. Then we sent it to the wrong places, Ron reckons, because he didn’t see a single UN or Red Cross worker in the time he criss-crossed Ukraine. And then, by the time we got around to sending lethal help, we were already perceived as reluctant. Which Ron Mark reckons is part of what’s made it difficult for the PM to get some meetings in the US, because Ukraine is top of mind for them and we’re not seen to be doing enough. I'm pleased he said this because I've been confused about why we’re still so slow in helping Ukraine. It seems like such a no-brainer to me. They’re a small country, like we are, being invaded by a bigger country. Sure

Joe Biden says the US would intervene if China made a move on Taiwan. Can we trust him despite the White House rowing back? Nanaia Mahuta has decided that China can be trusted when it comes to not torturing a man they want extradited for murder... Kris Faafoi now has to decide whether to extradite him. What do you reckon? Spark is starting to remove phone booths – Is anybody seriously still using them? The country remains at orange – which basically just means you have to wear a mask in shops etc. The Government is now also taking into account the risk of the flu putting pressure on hospitals. Do you have a problem with this, or is it time to ditch all these mandates and make mask use our own responsibility again? David Farrar, Kiwiblog and Pollster, and Hayden Munro, former Labour Party Campaign Manager, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fining commercial landlords over empty shop fronts could be a way to boost life in the city.  38 shops are empty in Auckland's Queen Street. The Herald’s Simon Wilson told Heather du-Plessis Allen a penalty could help.  He says revitalising the city starts with the shops ... which bring people in. “You then have a light in the place, you have less crime you have more commerce, you know, you have more people enjoying themselves. But it has to start with the shops, it can’t start with anything else.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country is to stay at orange. Monkeypox... What does our resident epidemiologist minister Ayesha Verrall say about the risk of this? And the Government has appointed a panel for its Electoral Law Reform. Newstalk ZB political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor may well get the 76 seats they need to govern alone. Barnaby Joyce is under pressure as leader of the Nationals, and there's talk the coalition may split. Rising petrol prices could reach record levels soon. Australia correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you used a public phone booth? Spark has just announced it's starting to remove 10 percent of its phone booths across Auckland and Wellington... And looking to futureproof the rest.  Tessa Tierney is Spark's product director, she joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A meeting between the Prime Minister and US President could be on the cards.  Ardern is in the United States meeting politicians and executives – and slated to give Harvard University's commencement speech ... and appear on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  Chief political reporter Jason Walls is with the delegation. He told Heather du Plessis Allan Ardern has signalled she's keen to discuss the CPTPP trade deal. “Prime Minister said ‘listen it might be a bit of a long shot but we’re still looking to get the US into that agreement.’” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders will be keeping masks on for a while yet.  The Government's announced the country will stay at the Orange level of the Traffic Light Setting, at least another month.  Gathering limits are long gone – but masks must still be worn in most indoor locations.  Our Covid Response Minister says new cold and flu strains will add to the workloads of already strained hospitals.  College of GPs medical director Bryan Betty told Heather du Plessis-Allan we're facing a complex few months ahead. “There’s very little spare capacity in the system at this point and that capacity could be used up very, very quickly if things were to worsen over winter.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbourhoods around the country are pushing against Kainga Ora developments. Forty-five-unit apartment blocks being developed in New Plymouth have neighbours worried.  Mayor, Neil Holdom, told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people are raising legitimate concerns – but more social housing is needed.  “We’ve got a waiting list with 770 families, that’s not 770 people that’s 770 families in Taranaki.” Meanwhile, a petition garnering thousands of signatures hopes to stop a development on Auckland's North Shore. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is telling anyone with monkeypox to isolate for 21 days. A nurse at a children’s hospital in England has been arrested after the death of a youngster she is alleged to have poisoned. Manchester City have launched an investigation after Aston Villa keeper Robin Olsen was assaulted during a pitch invasion. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian election didn't just bring a new Prime Minister and governing party. The rise of the Teal independents – meaning blue-green – has become the main storyline in Aussie's election. Former chief of staff to Kevin Rudd Simon Banks joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a war going on. A war between the streaming giants.  Netflix' recent results gave a bit of a warning shot for tougher times to come. The company is losing subscribers for the first time. Other big streaming companies have reported since and as everything in life gets more expensive people might just think twice about how many streaming services they really need. Jeremy Ward is Jarden's global equities analyst. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is jetting off to the states tonight ready to meet with the UN Secretary-General, US Senators and heads of big tech companies in California. But there's still a question mark over the really, really big meeting ... and that's with US President Joe Biden at the White House.  NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable about NIMBYism, but not in the case of the controversial Kainga Ora development being built in New Plymouth. I reckon locals have very good reason to oppose it and should continue to oppose it and should definitely insist that it's not in my backyard. This is a 45-unit public housing complex being built in the centre of the city made up of one- and two-bedroom units which are going to be run by Kainga Ora aka Housing NZ. Neighbours are divided on it. There are those who don’t want it. They’re worried about what it'll do to property prices in an area where some of them are selling for more than 1 million dollars.  And they’re worried about the security of their neighbouring businesses – like the local motorcycle centre owner said – ‘if they put the wrong people in there’. But then there are those who think it’ll be great for those without homes to have somewhere to live and who accuse the NIMBYs of being judgmental. I don’t think they are being judgemental. I think they’

New Zealand is deploying 30 more troops to Europe to help train Ukrainian fighters.  They won't actually go into Ukraine, instead, the Ukrainians and Kiwis will get together in the UK.  It comes after 50 defence personnel were deployed for two months in April and we sent $16m to buy military equipment for Ukraine.  Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian election threw up some interesting results. Do people love Labor? Or do they hate Scomo?  Just months after Christchurch Council agreed on plans for a new stadium, the cost has already blown out, and the delivery date set back. One councillor says the public's expectations for the project are too high. From tomorrow, Waka Kotahi will use security cameras to figure out who is using their phones and driving without a seatbelt.  Coke has come up with a new design for their bottles... where the lid stays attached to make it easier for recycling. Do you buy this or is it greenwashing? A UK mom is considering making her 8-year-old kid pay for his uniform because he constantly loses things and life is expensive. Ali Jones and Tim Wilson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.