Larry Williams Drive

Chocolate products could be in for a shake-up, as manufacturers race to develop cocoa alternatives. A Rabobank report shows food companies are looking into new technologies to substitute traditional beans. Climate-related pressures are driving up global cocoa prices, and disrupting supply chains. RaboResearch analyst Paul Joules says companies will look into fermenting plants like oats and seeds for an alternative - to use in products like chocolate fillings. "The taste can be a little bit different, it can be a bit more sour if they don't quite get the fermentation right - and it's not necessarily a direct replacement for a typical chocolate bar." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New drug data shows a fall in the cost of methamphetamine seems to relate to increased consumption. The New Zealand Drug Trends Survey reveals a gram cost about $334 last year - compared to $563 in 2017.  Over the same period, the proportion of respondents using the drug every week rose from 27 percent to 57. Massey University drug researcher Chris Wilkins says that like with any commodity, people will consume more when the price is down.  "It seems that it's just current users that are using more because the price is cheaper." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criticism over a lack of detail - as the Prime Minister delivered his State of the Nation address to business leaders in Auckland today at the International Convention Centre's first event. Chris Luxon says two years of hard work by Government and business owners will pay off this year, with more jobs and growing incomes.  Business Chamber head, Simon Bridges, says he'd have liked more vision in the speech. "For not just sort of here and now - but for if there's another term, what that's going to look like. I think that's what the business community, the struggling middle, New Zealanders would want." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says voters shouldn't expect any big election promises this year, as the Government looks to keep the books in order. Chris Luxon's given his State of the Nation speech in Auckland before 600 business leaders. Luxon declared the economic recovery is here, and pointed to Kiwisaver, RMA and education reforms as this year's policy planks. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the Government's dialled back the rhetoric this time round, as part of a 'low risk, low reward' strategy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, new polls indicate Pauline Hanson is gaining political momentum. A recent Newspoll claims One Nation’s primary vote has risen seven points to 22 per cent over the past two months, raising questions from experts. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Hanson's overtaken the Coalition on primary votes, according to new data.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Robertson's axing as All Blacks coach has prompted speculation about who will replace him in the top job. Robertson was relieved of his duties two years into a four-year contract, following a scathing review that found multiple frailties within the team and reports of player unrest. Sportstalk host Jason Pine weighed in on what we know so far, and addressed the rumours that Jamie Joseph  could replace Razor. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes the Government will slap a two-year ban on collecting shellfish and marine life from rockpools on Auckland's Whangaparāoa Peninsula.  Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says he's seeking advice on protecting the area.  Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools founder, Mark Lenton, says there's been an increase in people removing sea life from the area over the last couple of years. "As a long-term local of this beautiful place, it's just heart-breaking to me and people who have spent their entire lives here, surrounded by natural beauty, oceans and abundant marine life." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First of all, can I start by offering an apology to TVNZ? I gave them a bit of grief last night for starting the news bulletin with the peaches, but it turns out I was wrong and they were right. This has sparked a flurry of debate over whether we prefer our Wattie's peaches from Hawke's Bay or whether we don't really care if it comes from China or not.  It's also prompted a statement from Wattie's asking us to support local growers. In other words, can we please buy New Zealand made? Now, that is a very nice sentiment, but let's be honest, that's all it is. It is a sentiment and it's not going to work. I mean, this is me, this is not me being cavalier about how hard this must be for the Hawke's Bay peach growers who are losing their Wattie's contracts. For them, this must be absolutely devastating and I feel terrible for them. But this is me being realistic about the prospect of any 'Buy New Zealand Made' campaign working. Wattie's New Zealand peaches, according to Pak’nSave's online

Let's talk about this business with the pension age. Chris Luxon has said twice today that he wants the pension age to go up to 67. He said it once on Kerre’s show this morning, and then at a post-Budget lunch speaking to business leaders, he repeated it and he told them that this is basically going to be election policy for National next year. Now, regardless of how you may feel about this, I mean, you'd have to be coming around to the realisation, wouldn't you, that we are inching closer and closer to this thing actually happening. Especially after the changes that the Government made to our KiwiSaver retirement funds yesterday. It's not long now. I think that the Government will have completely wound down its government support of KiwiSaver, and then it's gonna come after the pension next, isn't it? This is where I think it gets tricky, because this is not just about money for people. This is emotional. Let me lay out the emotional argument for you as it plays out in my head, okay? It goes like this: don't

'Rotten, corrupt': Tiki Taane takes aim at Spotify as Kiwi artists boycott platform Many of New Zealand's biggest musicians are boycotting Spotify and ditching the platform amid accusations of exploitation. Tiki Taane and The Bats are among the big names getting behind Boycott Spotify NZ and other Kiwi bands like Carb on Carb, Synthetic Children and Recitals have signed the statement calling for better treatment.  Taane has cited greed, corruption and investment in European defence technology company Helsing as some of the key reasons why he's walking away. "I love music, I love creating music, but I also have to take a stand against corruption, against greed, against war, against murder - the easiest thing for me to do to help support that is to take my music off the platform and cancel my subscription."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's growing calls to scrap NCEA - and the Government is looking to make some changes to the qualification. What do we make of this? Coldplay's Chris Martin is now warning adulterers to disentangle before the kiss cam comes on. What do we think of this saga? Should the CEO have had to resign?  The Government has confirmed the new Waikato medical school is under way - do we see the costs blowing out? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November China's economy showed clear signs of strain as investment, consumption, and industrial output all weakened more than anticipated.  "I think the most worrying thing is fixed asset investment actually, which has now declined for the 3rd month in a row," Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Andrew Dickens "We've never seen that before." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 19 December. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has sentenced a doctor to death after he poisoned 30 patients, killing 12. The EU has agreed to provide Ukraine more money after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged leaders to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv. But, the money may not be enough. "Bit by bit it's getting worse and worse for Ukraine, no matter what support they've got," Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has approved OceanaGold’s Waihi North mining project, extending gold and silver extraction in the Waihi area until 2043, delighting the pro-mining crowd. It's a decision I agree with. Waihi has already been extensively mined and the environment beaten up. The decision will keep the town alive and provide hundreds of jobs. But make no mistake, this will not be an El Dorado for the whole country. The royalties are still at the excruciatingly low level they've always been at. Waihi North will generate $5.2 billion in additional gold and silver exports over its 18-year lifespan — averaging $286 million per year. Meanwhile, Crown revenue from corporate tax, PAYE, and royalties is expected to total a net present value of $422m over the life of the project. That's not an economy-saving sum, and it represents an 8 per cent yield on the output. But a deal is a deal. What concerns me is thoughts of new claims — the area behind Pauanui and Tairua on the Coromandel. Or the new work proposed for Bendigo. Un

Kiwibank has scrapped it's plans for partial privatisation after the Reserve Bank announced it's reduction of the amount of capital it requires banks to hold to protect their depositors in the event of a crisis. The bank had been talking to investors, seeking a $500 million capital raise after the Government gave it the green light to raise money to become more competitive.  Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich talked to Andrew Dickens about the change and the future of the market.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley joined Andrew Dickens to chat about the latest news out of America.  The alleged Brown University shooter, who killed two and injured more, was found dead. The House Oversight Committee Democrats released 68 more photos from Epstein's estate, including images of Bill Gates, Steve Bannon and Noam Chomsky. And, TikTok has agreed to a deal which will end the threat of a US ban.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament’s youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pāti Māori, has teased a coming Waitangi Day announcement with an Instagram post to her 271K Instagram followers.  The post alluded to a collaboration between herself and Green MP Tamatha Paul. And, as election year approaches questions of Winston Peter's political alliance come to the forefront.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumers are being warned of a price hike for technology like phones and computers due to the rise of AI creating a shortage of computer chips.  The cost for parts like RAMs have also sky rocketed with some products already costing double, or triple, what they did a year ago.  "There's only so much production capability on the planet, and what we're seeing is where these chips are fabricated, they are diverting their production away from the RAM that's used in our consumer devices to the high bandwidth memory that is being used in the AI data centres," Gorilla Tech CEO Paul Spain told Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK teachers will be given training to spot the early signs of misogyny in boys in order to address concerns about online radicalisation. The Government is looking to clamp down on violence against women and girls, and there's hope that addressing the early roots will slow down the problem. UK correspondent Enda Brady says violence against women is on the rise, and the release of Netflix's Adolescence earlier this year sparked a discussion about what boys see online. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.