Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Kiwi Kayakers Max Brown and Grant Clancy are coping well with the controversy of them competing in the canoeing pair event at the Olympic Games. The duo finished distant last in their heat and quarterfinal in Paris after they were forced to compete in the kneel-down canoeing C2 500 - which was qualified so they could compete in the K4 500 event. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Minister has set out five new reporting instructions for Oranga Tamariki going forward. How the ministry is performing across these new criteria will be publicly reported every quarter starting from the 2024/2025 financial year. These include frequency of visits to children in care, timeliness around Reports of Concern, caregiver reports, complaint management and addressing youth offending. Minister Karen Chhour says data from the Independent Children's Monitor says the ministry has failed to meet these standards. "I'm going to make sure we get these quarterly reports, so we can see it in real time and actually make sure we're improving things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inevitably, the Aussies have picked up on the slur from Chris Luxon, where he said when talking to Aussies - it pays to be ‘incredibly simple’. And they seem to be largely taking in the spirit it’s intended, which is just a bit of humour. And it also means Luxon’s play worked. Which is - by having a crack at the Aussies to distract us from the actual issue, which is Paul Goldsmith taking Māori words out of the Matariki invitation.Look, let’s get to the heart of this, this was a dumb thing for Paul Goldsmith to do. Yeah, I get he might want an invitation from him to be authentic to him and if he doesn’t make a habit of going around using Māori words in a tokenistic fashion to show off his inclusivity credentials, then sure, he might want to take out the Te Reo and replace it with English - fair enough.But Paul Goldsmith is going have start being a little bit smarter and strategic about this, because this Government doesn’t need a petty issue like this on race relations to deal with. It has got enough going on as it is. A lot of what the Government's doing on race relations is worthy and does need to be done. Repealing the Māori wards, tidying up the Treaty Principles, halting co-governance, putting an end to certain ethnicities getting priority surgery - and they can defend that stuff quite easily on democratic and equal rights grounds.But when Paul Goldsmith does something like taking Māori words out of an invitation - although it may be true to his way of speaking - what he does is he makes this democratic and equal rights reset just look like an anti Māori thing for some people. Now to be fair to him, he’s not the only minister who’s been caught fighting petty battles like this, he's just the latest.But it would pay for these guys the next time they want to take Māori words out of a document to really think about whether that, if leaked, is something they want to add to the Government's race relations agenda. Because there is a very fine line between appearing to be for equal rights and appearing to be just anti-everything Māori. And frankly, there are much more important things going on in this country right now. An energy crisis, a possible recession, a massive problem in health - just to name a few. But what are we going to remember about this week? Paul Goldsmith’s invitation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK police believe there are at least 30 potential far right gatherings planned tonight. So far in the week’s unrest, 400 arrests have been made and around 100 people have been charged in connection with the disorder brought about by the riots. Nearly 6,000 public order officers are being mobilised. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rideshare giant Uber has reported its second quarter result - and shares were up +11 percent. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the company is in a position to keep growing, despite an uncertain macroeconomic outlook and decreased consumer spending. Milford Asset Management's Deborah Lambie unpacks these results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Around 40,000 McDonald’s staff are likely to be compensated, as the fast-food chain corrects a widespread payroll issue dating back 15 years. McDonald’s is contacting those employed between November 1, 2009, and December 6, 2020, asking them to check a portal on its website to see if they’re eligible for reimbursement. The company is one of countless employers, including government departments, that miscalculated leave entitlements outlined in what’s proven to be a very confusing Holidays Act 2003. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains who stands to benefit from this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief a major Auckland pulp mill proposing closure could be the first of many. Oji Fibre Solutions is consulting with its 75 Penrose staff, citing a three-year pattern of losses. CEO Jon Ryder says dramatically rising energy costs are one of several issues plaguing the mill. E tū Union negotiation specialist Joe Gallagher says the Government needs to step in and set up some regulations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has raised a few eyebrows following her controversial comments in the House. She's accused the ACT Party of grooming the Prime Minister and the Government into exercising 'ethnocide' on Māori culture. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has labelled these accusations as hate speech. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 7 August 2024, the Polkinghorne trial has turned to Philip Polkinghorne's relationships with sex workers today. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% today. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr says it's slightly better than predicted but he still thinks a cut to the OCR next week is warranted. The Chief Ombudsman has named and shamed St Peter's College in Auckland as one of the schools that have refused to follow his recommendations after excluding a student who had bought and smoked cannabis. But the school's principal defends the decision not to apologise to the student for being tough on drug use. The Huddle discusses councillors facing threats for taking a stance on the Maori wards issue. Plus was it smart or embarrassing to send a team to the C2 canoe racing when they had zero experience? 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/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayer's Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issue of the day - and more! Councillor Murray Chong has spoken up about feeling threatened after he found a bullet dent in his ute ahead of the Māori ward vote. How appalling is this? Are we being too hard on our C2 500 crew after their Olympic performance? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Council is hoping to force the redevelopment of the the infamous Johnsonville Shopping Centre after years of inaction. It's been two decades since the mall was refurbished - and several high-profile retailers have abandoned the premises. Wellington Councillor Ben McNulty says there's plenty of options to force change along. "My view is - if they're not going to use it, they might as well lose it, and someone else who can actually do the work and has the expertise needs to come in." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Plymouth's mayor says threats against councillors aren't uncommon. Councillor Murray Chong abstained from voting on Māori wards yesterday - saying he was fearful after finding a bullet dent in his ute. Legislation passed last week to let councils get rid of their Māori wards. New Plymouth has voted to retain theirs, but Kaipara District Council today become the first to scrap theirs. New Plymouth mayor, Neil Holdom, says they get threats on a range of topics. "People used to write in emails and they'd express their views quite professionally and constructively - now it's just becoming increasingly aggressive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank's Chief Economist says unemployment will rise for another year. Stats NZ figures out today show unemployment jumped to 4.6 percent in the June quarter, from 4.4 the quarter before, and 3.6 percent this time last year. Jarrod Kerr says this statistic tends to lag behind the rest of the economy, because employers keep workers as long as they can. "So we think the unemployment rate keeps lifting for the rest of this year and into next - and it'll end up around 5.2-5.3 percent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A court has heard Phillip Polkinghorne's police interview on day eight of his trial. The Auckland eye doctor is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, in 2021. He maintains she killed herself. Polkinghorne's dealings with other woman have been detailed today, both at a North Shore apartment in 2019, and a Mount Cook retreat in the weeks after Hanna's death. NewstalkZB's Chelsea Daniels says Polkinghorne jumped from topic to topic in the police interview. "Detailing things like the couple's beach house, an argument they'd had about staining, an episode of New Amsterdam they'd watched the night before." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canoe Racing New Zealand are defending a situation which has drawn the ire of some fans at the Paris Olympics. The crew finished significantly later than all the other boats - coming in dead last by 45.31 seconds in the quarterfinal stage. Canoe Racing NZ chair Greg Adlam says the team did what they could in a difficult boat. "It's one thing for kayakers to get into a canoe boat and to paddle it, it's another one to actually lay down power on the course. That's the phase we're at now." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has found her running mate - bringing out Governor Tim Walz at a Philadelphia rally. Walz addressed a cheering crowd for the first time as Vice Presidential nominee. Harris says Walz shines a light on a brighter future they can build together. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the pair had a one-on-one meeting over the weekend - and just clicked. "She liked a lot of what he brought, liked the fact that he's been going after Trump - and thinks that he will help her cross the Midwest." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canoe Racing New Zealand is defending a pragmatic decision in their Olympic qualification process. Kayakers Max Brown and Grant Clancy have been forced to compete in the kneel-down canoeing C2 500 - a boat which was qualified so they could compete in the sit-down K4 500 event. The pair have finished 45 seconds behind the winner of their Paris Games quarter-final, because they didn't want to expend too much energy. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chief Ombudsman is urging school boards to take accountability for decisions. Peter Boshier has made his case notes public relating to his recommendations not being followed - by the boards of Auckland's St Peter's College and Christchurch's Cashmere High School. St Peter's refused to apologise for excluding a student for buying and smoking marijuana - and Cashmere didn't apologise or take steps after declining an out-of-zone enrolment without explanation. Boshier says the schools should have apologised for the inadequacies in their responses. "We recommended that these students' disciplinary records be amended and have nothing attached to it - and then we said the board, when it's doing a decision like this, should have a clear process." St Peters principal James Bentley has refused to apologise. "Marijuana buying and using is an illegal activity - we hold the view, as many schools do, that this has no place in our schools. We'd hoped the Ombudsman would have supported us on this, but unfortunately he took a different approach." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hit back at Elon Musk over claims that a 'civil war' may break out in the UK. On a video of rioters setting off fireworks at police, Musk commented that civil war was 'inevitable'. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney says Starmer and his team have been working to get a grip on the riots - and social media responses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has taken on a grim tone with today's OCR update - and warned rate cuts aren't on the horizon. The Bank considered hiking rates today, but moved to keep them in place at 4.35 percent. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says inflation is still running too far above expectations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three major New Zealand banks have slashed their rates ahead of next week's OCR review. Both Kiwibank and BNZ have urged the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate down - months ahead of predicted forecasts. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains why there's a case for the Reserve Bank to move quicker. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 6 August 2024, Health NZ's Richard Sullivan explains the u-turn to give some cancer patients early access to Keytruda treatments after all. Smith & Caughey's chairman Tony Caughey explains the decision to keep the business going after he thought he would have to close just a few months ago (and his hot take on interest rates). There's a warning that Kiwi kids who spend too much time on screens are displaying behaviour that mimics the symptoms of ADHD. The Huddle debates whether PM Chris Luxon is right when he says we might have to teach less arts and music and teach more maths. 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/listener for privacy information.

There's another crucial Global Dairy Trade auction taking place tonight as a new season kicks into gear. Rabobank analyst Emma Higgins has predicted WMP and SMP will move lower overnight. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and Toby Manhire from The Spinoff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Prime Minister caught a bit of backlash after suggesting schools might have to defer arts and music to focus on teaching more maths. Do we agree with Luxon? Health NZ has done a u-turn on Keytruda - allowing some cancer patients to get early access. Was this the right call? Winstone's pulp and timber mills have seen their power bills jump by 600 percent and are closing their mills for a couple of weeks because it's too expensive to keep going. Should the Government intervene? New research shows children who spend too much time on their screens display behaviours that mimic ADHD. How can we manage this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones is calling the possibility two mills could close - 'hideous' - with the loss of 300 jobs. Winstone's says ballooning energy bills could force the Ohakune pulp and timber mills to shut. Jones is urging the energy companies to offer these industrial players a deal to keep them going. "My problem is - if they don't start to engage and actually look after New Zealand firms and New Zealand employers, then I fear for the industrialisation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historic Auckland department store Smith & Caughey’s is living to fight another day. The 144 year old business announced in May it would close next year - but today revealed measures to let it stay open. It will downsize physical trading to the ground floor of its Queen Street store, cut about 100 staff and close the Newmarket branch, and ramp up online operations. Chair Tony Caughey says the reality is fewer people shop in the city and they must adapt. "There'll be different ways of doing things - and I think it will evolve. We won't see the old days of how it was, but we'll see a new, different sort of Queen Street." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business owners in Wellington’s Courtenay Place hope to boost the area's image with a New Year’s Eve street festival. 35 businesses have come together to pitch an outdoor event offering food, drinks and entertainment - and all they need is approval from the council. Courtenay Place business owner Greig Wilson says they're putting extra pressure on the council to ensure it gets approved on time. "It's a model that's worked really well in the past, with Sevens parties and Lord of the Rings premieres." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Japanese market is clawing its way back, after an epic tumble overnight. Its Nikkei had a historic one-day drop - the first in a volatile chain of global financial markets. It's now starting to stabilise, sitting about nine percent up on yesterday. Matt Goodson from Salt Funds Management says Japan's weakness began a couple of days ago, when the central bank hiked up cash rates. "The Japanese market had been pretty strong all year, the yen had been really weak - and that just turned everything around, the market fell hard, the yen really strengthened." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand has explained a U-turn to give a small group of cancer patients early access to Keytruda treatment. It had earlier said it would wait to offer patients the drug, until Pharmac funding started in October. Chief Clinical Officer Richard Sullivan says up to 30 people can get the drug this month. "After reaching out to our clinical colleagues in our cancer centres, recognising the number of patients we could bring in early under this access program - is a small number we felt the system could do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaker Gerry Brownlee is warning MPs against bad behaviour after last week's drama in the House. ACT clashed with the Speaker over wearing party-logo pins, and the Children's Minister broke down in tears, feeling bullied - and her leader later criticised the Speaker. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says today's session was much more orderly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Reserve Bank has moved to leave rates on hold at 4.35 percent. Figures from the June quarter showed inflation has stayed in line with market expectations - but the bank is holding on before making bigger moves. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Australians are still on edge, as a cut is unlikely to happen until early 2025. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors star Shaun Johnson has announced his retirement after 14 years are the top level. The halfback will conclude his NRL and international career after the Warriors' final four games of the season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One neuroscience expert claims Kiwi kids who spend too much time on their devices have developed behaviours that mimic ADHD. This comes as teachers are forced to adapt their teaching methods as children display behavioural issues as a result of excess screentime. Educational psychologist and neuroscience trainer Kathryn Berkett says these kids are unable to concentrate or sit still - which are behaviours experts use to diagnose ADHD. "We're never letting our kids spend time without external stimulation into their brains." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 5 August 2024, terrorism expert Greg Barton speaks with Heather after Australia raised its threat level , saying an attack is "probable". Finance Minister Nicola Willis on her plans to make Kiwibank more competitive - will she sell parts of it to raise more capital? Cancer advocates are upset that Health NZ has declined a drug company's offer of free treatment for cancer sufferers. Act leader David Seymour responds to John Key's plea to lower the temperature on race relations. Plus the Huddle debates whether the BBC should be removing old footage that includes disgraced ex-presenter Huw Edwards. 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/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis appears intent on making Kiwibank a bigger player in the banking sector The Finance Minister told the National Party's annual conference yesterday she wants to look into privatising the New Zealand-owned bank. It comes only a couple of years after the previous Government secured complete state ownership for 2.1 billion dollars. Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan she's not proposing selling off the Government's share - she just wants to add to it with new capital. She says the motivation isn't about getting more cash out of Kiwibank - it's about growing it by having other people putting cash in. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act's leader's standing by his controversial Treaty Principles Bill, under criticism from Sir John Key. At National's conference in the weekend, the former Prime Minister said the temperature should be turned down on race relations. He suggested the Bill isn't workable, because the principles of Te Tiriti change over time. David Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan problems need open discussion. He says the Bill is about what the founding document really means, and will find out how to make New Zealand a place for all. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has come down in favour of dairy companies - opting out of an international infant formula proposal. Rules designed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand restrict labelling - and only let pharmacies and healthcare providers sell specialist formula. Industry giant Danone threatened to withdraw from New Zealand if it went through - taking away 441 jobs. Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard told Heather Du Plessis-Allan they want New Zealand products to remain competitive. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief a controversial Health New Zealand decision on cancer drug funding - will shorten lives. Pharmac's giving free access to Keytruda for five types of cancer, but funding doesn't kick in for two months. Health NZ has scrapped a proposal to provide it the medication for people in need until then. Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland says he is gobsmacked. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's the cruellest decision he's seen Health NZ make, and will mean patients lives are cut short. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 2 August 2024, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins talks about the Government concluding their formal response into the March 15 Royal Commission. A trauma surgeon is warning the Government ahead of their speed limit increases - saying it could lead to further deaths and injuries. Former Olympian Barbara Kendall discusses our chances for gold in tonight's sailing races. Plus, the Sports Huddle debates their hero of the Olympics so far... Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge has allowed the identity of Axel Rudakubana to be reported as the 17-year-old was charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack. A 17-year-old boy has appeared in an English court charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack at a dance class that has shocked the United Kingdom and sparked two nights of violent protests. Axel Rudakubana first appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court over the incident at a “Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop” summer holiday event for children in the seaside town of Southport. He is charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one of possession of a bladed article. His case was later heard at Liverpool Crown Court, where he sat in the dock covering his face with a grey sweatshirt and did not speak to confirm his name. Judge Andrew Menary did not impose reporting restrictions on Rudakubana’s identity, which had not previously been reported as he is under 18. Rudakubana was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing in October. He has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Large disturbances broke out in Southport, a town in England’s northwest, after false information was spread on social media that the suspect in the stabbings was a radical Islamist migrant, with anti-immigrant protesters descending on Southport town from elsewhere. Police have said the attack was not terrorism-related and that the suspect was born in the UK, quashing speculation on his origins. Tributes to the victims are left by wellwishers in Southport, England. Photo / Getty Images Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with police leaders to offer them the government’s full backing following violent clashes with protesters in Southport and London. ”As far as the far-right is concerned, this is co-ordinated, this is deliberate,” Starmer told a press conference. “This is not a protest that just got out of hand. It is a group of individuals who are who are absolutely bent on violence. Our country is coming to terms with an act so inexplicably vile. “Our thoughts are with the families at the heart of this unimaginable pain. “Let me be clear: the tiny, mindless minority in our society who provoked violent disorder on our streets will be made to face the full force of the law.” Starmer said the government was establishing a national unit across police forces to tackle violent disorder including shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology and preventative action such as orders to restrict the movement of persistent offenders. He also warned social media companies: “Violent disorder, clearly whipped up online, that is also a crime and it is happening on your premises and the law must be upheld everywhere.” Thousands gathered near Starmer’s Downing Street office and residence in London on Wednesday evening, shouting: “Save our kids”, “We want our country back” and “Stop the boats”. Protesters also threw flares and smoke canisters towards Downing Street. London’s Metropolitan Police said 111 people had been arrested for offences including violent disorder and assaults on police officers. Five officers were injured. On Tuesday, more than 50 police officers were hurt in protests in Southport, when demonstrators set police vans on fire and dismantled garden walls to hurl bricks at officers. As well as the killing of three girls aged six to nine, the attack in the normally quiet town left eight other children and two adults with stab wounds. Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement that two of the children had been discharged from hospital. ”We continue to treat five children involved in the devastating incident in Southport on Monday, including one recently transferred to us from Aintree University Hospital,” the trust said. ”All the children in our care are currently in a stable condition.” Hundreds of people in the community have taken part in vigils to mourn the slain children and laid bouquets of flowers at the site of the incident. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has offered herself up to be a mediator between the EU and China, after her visit to Beijing. The relationship between the EU and China have decayed recently, over electric vehicles being dumped into the EU, and investigations on both sides and other trade disputes. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis says Meloni is confident of mending ties, but her recent track record with China may say otherwise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland apartment developer has been put into interim receivership by the High Court. Du Val Capital Partners and other Du Val Group companies were put into interim receivership after an application by the Financial Markets Authority. Police were also seen entering Du Val co-founders Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke’s home in Remuera. NZ Herald Property Editor Anne Gibson joined Andre Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB Sports readers Andrew Alderson and Nick Bewley joined Andrew Dickens on the Sports Huddle. The first week of the Olympics has wrapped up – with glory and agonising drama across the board for New Zealand – and the guys talk through their heroes so far, including triathlete Hayden Wilde. Athletics is about to get underway in the Olympics, with sprinter Zoe Hobbs and runner Sam Tanner, and shot-putters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill will also be getting underway. And they guys talk the Crusaders deciding to stick with Rob Penney despite the Crusaders’ worst Super Rugby season in recent years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Trauma Surgeons Committee believe the Government’s plan to increase speed limits will ultimately lead to more deaths, injuries and traffic overall. They’ve issued a statement warning New Zealand doesn’t have the appropriate infrastructure for high-speed travel. And they warn many parents are fearful of speed increases around schools. Trauma surgeon Dr Chris Wakeman joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great news for the ski fields. Winter has finally decided to do its thing and snow is dumping. And the wild and wooly weather arrived in the week we learnt that we are no more ready for a natural disaster today than we were before Cyclone Gabrielle. A few weeks ago work stopped on the COP project. COP is Common Operating Platform. It’s a data system that could mean that any agency involved in a disaster can communicate with each other in real time. It’s making sure all the computers and phones can talk to each other. We need one for all sorts of things - weather events, fire, terrorist attacks, invasions. Everyone needs to be able to access it - Police, Fire, Army, Civil Defence. And then the whole thing can be coordinated from a local, regional or central position. Not having a common operating system was cited as the major failure in Gabrielle so this is a big thing. And I was very glad to hear the Prime Minister and Mike talking about it this morning. After describing the problem, the PM then said you can see how big our turnaround job is. And yes it is. And then Mike read out a text complaining that Ardern and Robertson were asleep at the wheel over this issue. Blaming the previous administration for all our woes is why nothing ever happens. The reality is the programme to create a common operating system started in 2014 under the John Key administration. His cabinet also ordered spatial data infrastructure be built to house the COP. Infrastructure that all New Zealanders could use to improve their business communication. They failed. The Bill English administration failed to implement the system. And then the Ardern administration and then the Hipkins administration and now the Luxon administration. Because they’ve let the parties walk away. The common factor in all the failures over a decade is the inability of the public services' involved to agree. They are also loathe to share data. And there’s the rub. Politicians and governments come and go, but the public service is forever. And in this case, they just may be pretty useless. Now whenever I get stuck into public servants, I’m told off for punching down and that the buck stops at the top with the minister. And I get that. But at some stage, you’ve just got to stop blaming the coach and sack some players. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More chances of medals tonight in the Paris games – this time in sailing. Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie are competing in the medal race for the men’s 49er FX. And windsurfer Josh Armit is also poised for a medal. Former Olympic sailor and gold medalist Barbara Kendall joined Andrew Dickens to unpack the medal chances. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City councillor isn't a fan of her Council's competition - hoping to get inspiration on cycleways. It's offered an $8500 prize pool for ideas on improvements. Councillor Diane Calvert told Andrew Dickens it makes no sense. “Well I think it is one of the many bonkers ideas that Wellington City Council has, and never really makes a difference to the city.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says amending hate speech laws in light of the Christchurch mosque attacks would breach the right to free speech. The Government's officially ended the coordinated response to the 2019 tragedy that killed 51 people. 36 recommendations from a report into the attack have been adopted - but eight won't be, including hate speech amendments. The Lead Coordination Minister told Andrew Dickens inciting violence is already restricted. She says someone who states they don't like someone else for being different is a fool - but that doesn't mean they should be arrested. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has officially concluded its coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission of the Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque Attacks. Lead Minister Judith Collins says they will adopt 36 of 44 recommendations from the report – but says hate speech laws or establishing a new security and intelligence agency isn’t among the recommendations they’ll adopt. Newstalk ZB senior political commentator Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva have landed in the United States, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The returnees were greeted with tears and embraces by their joyous families at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also on the tarmac to welcome them after their plane touched down some 20 minutes before midnight on Thursday. Whelan, who was first to exit the plane, gave a salute before shaking hands with the US leaders, followed by Gershkovich, who embraced both Harris and Biden before hugging his ecstatic parents. Kurmasheva rushed into the arms of her husband and daughters after greeting Harris and Biden. Gershkovich went quickly to address media gathered at the tarmac, telling his Wall Street Journal colleagues the words they had been waiting more than a year to hear. “I’m home,” he said. Biden observed the emotional family reunions, then removed his pin and placed it on Whelan’s lapel as Harris looked on. “It feels wonderful. Long time in coming. I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. I meant it when I said – alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us and it mattered a lot,” Biden told reporters, referring to the extensive diplomatic effort that resulted in the swap. The return marks the conclusion of what Biden called a “brutal ordeal” for the three Americans and their families following their detentions in Russia, where prisoners are often kept in harrowing conditions. Whelan, 54, had spent almost six years in Russian prisons after his arrest in Moscow in December 2018, while Gershkovich, 32, had been detained for more than a year. Both were sentenced on espionage charges and declared wrongfully detained by the US State Department. Kurmasheva, a 47-year-old journalist for the US-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was detained in October 2023 and found guilty of spreading false information about the Russian army – charges her family and employer deny. Their release – and that of Washington Post contributor and permanent US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza, 42 – was orchestrated as part of a complex prisoner swap between Russia, the US and other Western nations involving 24 detainees in total. Sixteen people were released from Russian custody on Thursday, including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Moscow in return got former high-ranking FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov, as well as several individuals accused of spying or cybercrime. In a statement earlier Thursday, Biden hailed the agreement as a “feat of diplomacy,” in collaboration with US allies, including Germany, Poland, Norway, and Slovenia. “Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,” said Biden, who hosted the families of Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva and Kara-Murza at the White House. Whelan, Gershkovich and Kurmasheva flew roughly 10 hours from Ankara, Turkey, on top of a three hour and 45 minute flight from Moscow to Ankara. They were accompanied on their return plane by multiple medics, a psychologist and US government officials including representatives from the National Security Council and State Department, a US official told CNN. All three and their family members are expected to continue on to San Antonio where they will be taken to Brooke Army Medical Center to undergo medical evaluation and receive whatever care they need for as long as they need, the US official said. This is typical protocol for wrongfully detained Americans who return home. WNBA player Brittney Griner also went to the center right after she was released from Russian detention in December 2022. The returnees will also have the option to participate in a Defense Department program called PISA (Post Isolation Support Activities), which is meant to help them readjust to being back in the United States. Many recently freed US wrongful detainees have undergone this program to help them acclimate back to normal life. - by Simone McCarthy, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.