Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 14 November 2025, we have officially missed our climate goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. So why are we sending a massive delegation to the talkfest that is Cop30? Labour's Deborah Russell tells Heather why the trip to Brazil is important. One of the outcomes of the damning McSkimming IPCA report has been the establishment of an Inspector General for the police. But would this have changed anything?   Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson wants to take Government Kiwisaver contributions from the rich to pay the poor. Whitcoulls is being accused of censorship for pulling a raunchy literary journal off its shelves. Folly Journal editor Emily Broadmore speaks to Heather about the publication. The Sports Huddle debates whether being selected as a bench player is just as prestigious as being picked for the starting XV. And will Heather buy a Lotto ticket this week? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every

OK, quick quiz for you. Think of the Labour Party. Who is the climate spokesperson? Yeah, no, you didn't get it right because it's Deborah Russell. I know. I didn't think it was that either. I didn't know it. And you know what, it's my job to know this kind of stuff. But to be fair to me, in the entirety of this year thus far, Deborah has only put out 3 press releases on the climate and the third one was today. And guess what it was about? It was announcing that Deborah is going to the annual Global Climate conference, COP 30, and she's gonna be leaving on Sunday and she's gonna be coming back Saturday, which means she's there basically for a week because of course she is, because who doesn't want a week in Brazil on the boss's credit card. I see what Deborah's doing. But let's also see this for what it is, right? Deborah's contribution to the climate this year is 3 press releases and a long-haul flight to Brazil return. So all up, a net negative contribution to the climate, which pretty much is the story tho

A shareholder vote to approve a takeover bid for Comvita has not gathered enough votes to proceed.   The bid from Florence to buy Comvita at 80 cents a share required 75% support from shareholders to go through.   Although the official vote count has not been released, we know that the numbers fall short of the margin.   Octagon Chief Investment Officer Paul Robertshawe told Heather duPlessis-Allan that anything is possible going forward, however it’s unlikely that Florence will raise their offer.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whitcoulls is being accused of censorship and moral panic - because it's hiding a literary journal with risqué content.  Copies of Folly Journal have been pulled off Whitcoulls shelves around the country and are now only offered when customers ask for it. Editor and Founder of Folly Journal Emily Broadmore told Heather duPlessis-Allan that Whitcoulls hasn't explained specifically why their books have been removed from stores.  'We have no idea. We've just been told that it's offensive, but we can't figure it out.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland retirement village is looking to ban electric vehicles because of safety. Forty-seven residents at Fairview Lifestyle Village in Albany have got into a row with management over the decision. One resident told our newsroom the village claims EV's are a fire risk. Drive Electric chair Kirstin Corson told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that it's completely unreasonable. She says EV's are 25 percent less likely to catch fire than a petrol or diesel vehicle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retirement Commission's calling on leaders to strengthen our retirement income system while we can. It's retirement income policy review's found a longer-term political focus is needed to ensure future generations' certainty.  It makes 12 recommendations, from moving more quickly to implement Kiwisaver reforms to harder strategies such as a new cross-party accord.  Commissioner Jane Wrightson says this issue should be thought about holistically.   She says we have time to make changes, adding there will be a million people over 65 by 2029, and 1.5-million by the 2050s.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's climate spokesperson says she's attending the UN's annual climate summit to become better informed.  Deborah Russell will join Climate Change Minister Simon Watts and a New Zealand delegation at COP30 in Brazil.  Climate scientists have warned the world's likely to blow past 1.5 degrees of warming.  Russell says we'll be faced with absolute disaster if we can't pull this back somehow.  She told Heather du Plessis-Allan that she wants to learn more about methane - and some of world's solutions around agriculture.  Russell says that's a pressing problem in New Zealand and it helps if as many of us as possible know as much as possible.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori has had an eventful week, with two prominent MPs being ousted from the party.   Party leader John Tamihere said that this was done to prevent an internal coup – however that may not be the case.   Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather duPlessis-Allan that a, “attempted takeover of the party's leadership was a made-up story.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A law group wants to see a culture shift at Police - while also welcoming an Inspector-General. The new position was announced, in response to a scathing IPCA report. It identified a number of issues around how Police's senior leadership team failed to deal with complaints about then-Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming in a timely and respectful manner. Defence Lawyers' Association co-Chair Elizabeth Hall told Heather du Plessis-Allan the culture at Police needs to change. She says if people don't feel they can talk or raise complaints that will be listened to, then information flow will not take place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, there's reports of dissatisfaction in the political ranks. There are fears from those loyal to Sir Keir Starmer that his job might be under immediate threat, with rumours circulating the Labour leader might be rolled.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says Labour's popularity has taken a hit in new polls and concerns are mounting ahead of the upcoming Budget. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of gold continues to hit new highs, and speculators are wondering whether they should invest. Gold has seen the strongest year since the 1970s, largely thanks to volatile markets and economic uncertainty.  Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flocks of farm animals and food vendors are set to welcome thousands of people to Canterbury’s annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, which is back with a more prestigious title. The Royal A&P Show of New Zealand, hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association, is being held from Thursday to Saturday. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So it turns out the woman with whom Jevon McSkimming had an affair, whose warnings police ignored and who police charged instead of investigating McSkimming, is still facing charges. This is the news today. And the police are having to defend this. Now, the charges don't relate to messages that she sent about McSkimming. Those charges have been dropped. They relate to messages that she allegedly sent to another policeman - the officer who originally arrested her - and the emails she allegedly sent to his wife. Now, this is undoubtedly going to look bad for police because it will look like they are still persecuting a victim. But how about we take the emotion out of it and look at it again? Just because Jevon McSkimming is a creep and clearly the villain of the story doesn't mean that she is necessarily innocent. I mean, look at the allegations. Allegedly emailing a police officer is one thing. Allegedly emailing his wife is something else. And this is after some pretty bunny-boiler behaviour, including sendin

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 13 November 2025, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers defends the decision to continue prosecuting the woman at the centre of the McSkimming saga. Teacher unions and their ongoing strikes have been blamed for dropping attendance rates - but Cathy Chalmers from the Manurewa Attendance Service says parents very much have their part to play. The US shutdown may be over but Donald Trump has a new headache. His name appears in new Epstein documents just released. Reuters US Politics Correspondent Bo Erickson speaks to Heather from Washington DC. Max Rashbrooke explains why we should start a Kids Kiwisaver - and who would have to contribute to it.   Plus, the Huddle debates whether it's appropriate to keep prosecuting McSkimming's accuser and getting kids used to saving money. 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/liste

Tonight on The Huddle, Brigitte Morton from Franks Ogilvie and former mayor of Auckland Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is it in the public interest to pursue charges against the woman at the centre of the McSkimming saga? She's charged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act for sending emails to the detective who arrested her. What do we make of all this?  David Seymour has blamed the teachers' strikes on a drop in school attendance last term? Was this out of line on his part? A think tank  is floating the idea of KiwiSaver schemes for kids, claiming it could set them up with $10,000-$20,000 in savings by the time they reach adulthood. Do we think this is a good idea?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it will act on all 19 recommendations from Parliament’s banking inquiry - and it's committed to increasing scrutiny around the banking sector. This comes as Westpac and ANZ report significant increases in profit, prompting concern from experts. Kent Duston from the Banking Reform Coalition says the proposed changes make good steps forward, but it's unclear how much of a difference they will make. "I think the big issue here is that the banks simply don't care. Whatever Parliament says - we're on the back of an inquiry from the Commerce Commission, another inquiry from Parliament from the select committee...whatever it is Parliament's saying, clearly the banks aren't listening." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House is staying firm the President had no involvement in wrongdoing, with the fresh release of emails written by deceased sex offender and child sex procurer Jeffrey Epstein. House Oversight Committee Democrats have released a 2011 email saying Donald Trump spent hours at Epstein's house with a victim.  Another email calls Trump 'the dog that hasn't barked'  - and say he told Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell to 'stop'. Reuters political correspondent Bo Erickson says there's a lack of context within these emails. "It's not clear what they are really talking about, so the White House is saying this is a political stunt. But the Democrats ae moving forward on another procedural process as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An attendance expert says David Seymour's disingenuous to blame attendance numbers on striking teachers.  He's claiming their industrial action meant term three attendance dropped year on year. He says it was on track for 52 percent attendance, but ended closer to 50. Manurewa Attendance Service head Cathy Chalmers says attendance on those days isn't recorded - and numbers usually slip at the end of term. "Historically, that last day before the long weekend, we get a lot of students not turning up to school." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner's instructed specialist investigators to see whether the McSkimming scandal amounts to a perversion of justice. Fallout continues from revelations in an IPCA report that's found senior police staff inadequately managed serious allegations against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Harassment charges against the complainant have been dropped, but she's still being prosecuted for emails sent to the lead investigating officer - and his wife.  Richard Chambers says he's checking the legal situation.  "Because I want to be reassured that there's nothing more to see here. I've asked that, I haven't got that answer yet." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House says Democrats are pulling a manufactured hoax following the release of emails by late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, mentioning Donald Trump. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released three email exchanges, followed by the release of 20-thousand pages of documents by Republicans. One email from 2011 claims the US President spent hours at Epstein's house with an unnamed victim. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the reactions to this development. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.