Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Forty-four titles have been announced for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards longlist, with true crime and politics among the big name nominees. Nine debut authors appear in the list, three in each of the poetry, illustrated non-fiction and general non-fiction categories, including the Jacinda Ardern memoir A Different Kind of Power. Time Out Bookstore manager Jenna Todd says it's unclear if Ardern will emerge victorious, as general non-fiction is a wide-ranging category. "You have history, memoir, creative essays, so who knows? I just have no idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister says discussions must be had on roads that keep flooding during extreme weather events. Chris Bishop and the Prime Minister have been surveying damage in Te Tairāwhiti, and visiting still isolated communities. Bishop says the focus now is reopening routes. But he says NZTA and contractors need to discuss how to future-proof these crucial routes.  "They'll be having a really good look at the Waioeka Gorge and thinking about what we need to do to rebuild - and it'll be the same with State Highway 35." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning more insurance companies could follow AA Insurance, which has paused signing up new new policies in the West Coast's Westport. Buller District Council says the insurer has confirmed it’s temporarily halting new property policies because of the high flood-risk. Existing policyholders can renew as usual. Victoria University Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston says he can almost guarantee it won't be a one-off. "We are in a period of climate-intensified risk, those risks are going to grow - sea level rise will intensify flood risk for many communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand roads are about to re-enter a dangerous window as schools return for term one. A report from driver safety advocacy group AutoSense claims accidents linked to fatigue happen most between 7 and 8am, the hour children head to school. CEO Charles Dawson says fatigue is driven by our body clock - and it can be dangerous. "Any vehicle that has a human behind the wheel is going to be prone to this, it's all about our natural physiology."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our fair trade agreement with India - repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader. Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country.  The Prime Minister has denied the assertion.  The full agreement is still not publicly available, but Trade Minister Todd McClay has detailed visa numbers to Parliament today. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked today's discussions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation about Liberal leader Sussan Ley's future with the party is growing, as more people call for her ousting. Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are the two names being discussed as potential replacements in the liberal leadership race. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's likely Ley will stay in the top job as long as the vote among Australia's right bloc remains divided. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC can live without being in football's Australia Cup. The Black Knights have been dumped because it's an Asian Confederation competition, while Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix are from the Oceania region. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand says it hopes to avoid a three-day strike by international cabin crew in February. E tū Union and the Flight Attendants Association have issued strike notices for wide-body crews on 787 and 777 Boeing flights. The airline's Chief People Officer, Nikki Dines, says they've covered a lot of ground in 10 months of weekly meetings with the unions. "There's a lot of things that we've agreed on, the last remaining item is just on pay. That's the one item that we are continuing to work with our cabin crew unions on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 28 January, 2026, we look at the legacy of Judith Collins in New Zealand politics as she prepares to become president of the Law Commission. Air New Zealand cabin crew are preparing to go on strike - will it affect your travel plans? Another hammer blow for the construction industry - why more than 20 businesses have gone bust in a week. And on the Huddle, Jack Tame and Jordan Williams look at why people aren't liking prime minister Christopher Luxon in opinion polls. 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.

A unit of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will take on security roles at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, sparking outrage and petitions in protest. Sources at the US embassy in Rome confirmed a statement from ICE that agents would support diplomatic security details during the upcoming Games. UK correspondent Mike Pearse says the high-profile shootings in Minneapolis have made headlines all over the world, and it's raised questions as to why this particular agency would need to be involved.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home owners could be left covering the costs of defective work on their properties once an overhaul of the Building Act is complete. The Government plans to give itself the ability to temporarily suspend the requirement for consumer protections to be put in place in the building sector. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank spent most of 2025 lowering the OCR, leaving experts to speculate how these changes impacted the economy. Since then, economic and business confidence has gone up for the start of 2026, but inflation data for the December quarter has raised some concerns Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2026 has been a rough year for New Zealand's construction sector, with multiple businesses going bust in January alone. Reports show there were 22 applications to put building or property related companies into liquidation over the 7 days from January 20 to January 27. NZ Certified Builders CEO Malcolm Fleming says this reflects the tough conditions that have impacted the market over the last two years. "Any liquidation is a bad news story, it's devastating for the builder, the homeowner, the sub-trades and supplier." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Judith Collins today confirmed she was retiring from politics - will we miss her? Will New Zealand politics be different without Ju-Co around?  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has sunk to his lowest popularity in the past year, with a leaked poll showing more voters disapprove of him than approve. What can the Government do differently here?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, so the biggest political news of the day is that Judith Collins has announced she’s retiring from politics to take up a new job as the head of the Law Commission mid‑year. I, for one, am going to miss Judith Collins being in politics, because she has that thing very few politicians have. Winston Peters has it, John Key had it - the ability to be a bit cheeky and have a laugh, but then get on and do the job. Too many politicians only have one or the other: they’re either so serious about their work that they’re boring, or they’re having so much fun that they get distracted from the work. Collins, though, could crack a joke, smirk, raise an eyebrow, giggle, enjoy firing off a handgun - and still keep a lid on whatever portfolio she was managing that day. It hasn’t always worked for her, obviously. Talofa became a meme, and praying in church during the 2020 campaign was probably one of the weirdest things you’ve ever seen. She was, you’d have to say, a better National Party leader on paper than in reality. But she has been the Minister of Justice, Police, Corrections, ACC, Defence, the intelligence agencies, the public service, Revenue, Ethnic Affairs, Energy, Space, and the Attorney‑General - and that’s not even the comprehensive list. You don’t hold that many portfolios across two different Governments without being capable, and Prime Ministers know that. But what I think Judith Collins was best at was the comeback. There was the Dirty Politics scandal a decade ago that cost her Cabinet jobs - but she made it back into Cabinet. There was the failed 2020 election campaign as leader - and she somehow managed to come back from that, something not everybody could have done. And now, finally, here in 2026, she has quit on her own terms. There’s a life lesson in this for all of us - wait around long enough, do things the right way, and you’ll make a comeback. And politics will be just a little less fun without Ju‑Co in it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga City Council's confirmed staff were working around Mount Maunganui on the morning a landslide buried six people at the campground. Surrounding cordons were reduced this morning, on day seven of work to recover those buried. A rāhui's been declared for parts of Pilot Bay and Mount Main Beach and the cordoned search area. Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the council's independent review will help narrow down which staff were in the area - and their jobs. "They were in the process of closing Mount Maunganui and putting fences up to stop the public from going into the Maunga, and that's because there were a lot of slips."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Cash Rate is expected to rise this year, although forecasters say predicting when is tricky. Inflation was stronger in the December quarter than expected, at 3.1 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen is picking a hike in November - with an outside possibility of one in May.  He says other signs in the market signal a possible increase.  "Actual bank rates for longer-term mortgages have already started to increase a touch this year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says the one thing she'd change about her political career is leading the National Party. The Senior MP has announced she's leaving politics after 24 years, in a career that included 18 different ministerial portfolios. In 2020 she had a brief stint leading the party, and lost the election to Jacinda Ardern.  She says stepping up was a bad move. "And I knew it was a hospital pass now, and I still did it, even though my husband was saying - don't do that. And I thought, well, who's going to do it if I don't?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reflections on a tumultuous career, as senior National MP Judith Collins quits politics. She's moving to become the Law Commission President - after 24 years in Parliament.  She lost the National leadership in 2021 after a caucus revolt, but just two years later became the Minister with the most portfolios. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper looked back on Collins' long-running political career. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest civilian death at the hands of Federal Immigration Officers in the US could hurt the Republican party in midterm elections.  Donald Trump is kicking off the campaign in Iowa - a state neighbouring Minnesota, where ICE agents have now shot two protesters dead. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says many Republicans and Trump allies are questioning the immigration agents' tactics.  He says Democrats aren't the only ones concerned. "And a lot of this, I'm sure, has to do with the mid-terms that are coming up this year. Democrats are going to take any opportunity they can to turn something like this into a political soundbite."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina has taken the first set of her Australian tennis Open quarter-final against world number two Iga Swiatek 7-5. The weather is considerably cooler than yesterday's 45 degree high - it's currently 21 in Melbourne. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recapped today's action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s most violent murderers is set to appear before the Parole Board for the first time this week. Clayton Weatherston was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Sophie Elliott in 2008. Weatherston is now eligible for parole, but Sophie's father, Gil Elliott, says he hasn't availed himself of any rehabilitation measures. "I maintain that his mental state, when he went in, will be the same as his mental state now after 18 years. Why would it be any different?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 27 January, 2026, should there be two inquiries into the Mount Maunganui landslide - one by the council, the other the Government? And is the uprooting trees at the crux of the problem there? We look at why boys are finding it harder to make friends as they get older. The fitness trends that could do you more harm than good. And on the Huddle, David Farrar and Rob Campbell dissect the latest political poll that's  got Winston Peters on the up. 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.

Over in the UK, another high-profile member of the Conservative Party has defected to Nigel Farage's Reform Party.  Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, well known for championing the controversial Rwanda plan, has joined the party.  It follows defections from others like former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawai and Conservative Party leader candidate Robert Jenrick.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's damaging for the Conservatives to lose such a high-profile member. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week's extreme weather in the Upper North Island left a lot of damage behind, and concerns have been raised about the future. The Government last year established a loose framework for climate adaptation, on an expert panel's recommendation to transition from buying-out destroyed homes - but Minister Simon Watts says a better assessment is needed. Climate adaptation expert Dr Judy Lawrence says clearer adaptation plans are needed in order to better equip risky places.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite Labour raising some concerns with the Government's trade deal with India, the move has been welcomed by rural economists. Trade analyst Stephen Jacobi says the Government timed the deal perfectly - and might have had to wait years if they prolonged the negotiations. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and AUT Chancellor Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  There's growing calls to phase out branded uniforms as parents grapple with rising costs. Do we need to ban uniforms altogether - or figure out an affordable solution?  The Government has indicated that they want to launch their own inquiry into the Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Should this replace the one being run by Tauranga Council - or should they work together?  More polls out today, and the date shows NZ First's Winston Peters is on the up. Why do we think this is? What will this mean for the election?  New data shows a quarter of young men don't have any close friends - and more young people feel pessimistic about the future. What do we make of this? Should we be concerned? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Post is being criticised for its radio silence, after announcing it's withdrawing services from inside 142 stores.  Despite the changes, 90 percent of customers will still be within four kilometres of an NZ Post store.  Postal Workers' Union organiser John Maynard says NZ Post hasn't talked about the hubs being set up to provide good services.  He says it shouldn't be on the unions to promote the positives.  "It's one thing for the company to adjust to changing mail volumes and people's communication methods, but it's quite another to consistently act in a manner which undermines people's confidence in the postal service." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, it seems there’s a very good chance that Tauranga City Council is going to have the inquiry they’ve launched taken off them and run by the Government instead. The Government hasn’t actually said those words out loud just yet. What they have said is that there is a strong case for a Government inquiry. But you can read between the lines here - they’re preparing us, and probably most importantly preparing the Tauranga City Council, for the fact that they, the Government, are going to run this inquiry. And they should be the ones running it. The council can’t investigate its own actions like it’s planning to do. No one is going to believe the council if it concludes the council has done nothing wrong - if you follow what I’m saying. And there are plenty of reasons to think the council may actually have done quite a lot wrong here. From the 111 call they claimed wasn’t forwarded to them - until they realised, whoopsie, yes it was - through to reports that council staff were at the campground before the slip but didn’t evacuate everyone, to the possibility that they were involved in clearing trees above the slip site. Now that, by the way - the trees issue - is potentially quite significant. It looks very much, if you compare the photos, like trees, probably pōhutukawa, were cleared from the site above the slip sometime between 2017 and 2019, probably to stop myrtle rust. If this is what happened - if the council stuffed up by removing trees and not replacing them, when everyone knows that plants stabilise the ground, and if the council was warned about slips in the hours before they happened and ignored those warnings, then they should carry the can for that. I have seen - and I don’t know if you’ve been seeing this too - but I have seen too many councils, lately, get away with dropping the ball. Auckland Council having drinks while the city was flooding three years ago. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council being begged to open the bar to prevent Wairoa from flooding, not opening the bar, and - guess what - Wairoa flooded. If no one is ever blamed for the things they do wrong before an event, then nothing changes. So the Government’s on the right track here. They need to take over this inquiry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A move for schools to leave branded uniforms to reduce costs for parents. Some are calling for rules to be modernised - to let students wear plain, generic clothing. It's been done in countries like Puerto Rico for years. Albany Senior High School Principal, Claire Amos, says it’s increasingly common for Kiwi students to wear coloured items without logos or embroidery. "They're often pretty much the same as what was their uniform - it's just no longer logoed, it's just a simple culottes, or skirt, or pants, and a top."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new year is well underway and people will be looking to get in shape, but one expert says not every social media trend is worth following on your fitness journey. Between the 75 Hard challenge and Zone 2 training, there are trends that work and trends that are less effective, depending on your level of fitness. Personal trainer Alex Flint says going too hard will lead to soreness, fatigue and late-night snacking, which can do more harm than good. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's considering a wider inquiry into last week's Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Six people remain missing - with recovery efforts slow faced by the unstable land, with floral tributes surrounding the cordon. Cabinet's discussing allocating funding to areas hard hit by severe weather. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell says he's spoken to Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale - but the council may still proceed with their own investigation.  "Obviously, they'll have to work through their own process in terms of what they want to do, but Mahé knows that we're committed to doing a Government inquiry." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament returned today for the first session of 2026, and the focus has turned to campaigning for the upcoming election. Hipkins and Luxon made their statements, with Luxon applauding the coalition's track record and Hipkins accusing the Government of being all about slogans, not delivery. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, a 31-year-old man was charged after a homemade bomb was thrown into a crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth yesterday. The man was charged with committing an unlawful act with the intent to harm, and making explosives under suspicious circumstances, and he's set to appear in court later this week.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the bomb was reportedly made out of ball bearings, screws and liquid in a glass container - with investigations still ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A child psychologist thinks social media use is hindering young men from making friends.  Data from Outward Bound shows one in four young men tell them they have no close friends.  Psychologist Sara Chatwin says that's abnormal against historic behavioural patterns. But she says her profession's seeing the trend firsthand and social media is making the young passive and isolated.  "It means that they're just sitting there and looking at stuff and roaming around and allowing algorithms to lead them down rabbit holes. They're not actively seeking out friendships." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks head coaching vacancy came too late for Vern Cotter's consideration. The Blues head coach will switch to the Queensland Reds for the 2027 and 2028 Super Rugby seasons. Cotter meets NZR's criteria, having coached Fiji and Scotland, but was blindsided Scott Robertson's axing. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, policing efforts are set to see a significant shakeup with the launch of a new 'British FBI'. The UK Government unveiled plans for a new National Police Service designed to take on fraud, cyber-crime, and terrorism, leaving local police to focus on everyday issues.  UK correspondent Mike Pearse says the National Police Service will work with police forces worldwide to bring down crime. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been growing debate over how Auckland's CBD can be revitalised after years of uncertainty and economic decline. The $5.5 billion City Rail Link is due to be built at the second half of the year and it's promised to bring in economic benefits, but it's unclear if it'll get the city in motion.  Kiwi entrepreneur Andrew Barnes says a lot of shops and businesses have been closed, and it's not as attractive to prospective visitors.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has been upping the pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut rates. The US Federal Reserve is set to convene next week, and it's looking likely that they'll keep rates on hold at this stage. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly unpacked the speculation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Donald Trump sparked some outrage following his criticism of allied efforts, including New Zealand, in Afghanistan. Were his comments out of line?  New Zealand Rugby has unveiled their updated criteria for a new All Blacks coach - applicants must be from New Zealand and have international head coaching experience? Do we think this is the right move?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 26 January, 2026, we explore how long Mount Maunganui's likely to remain off-limits in the wake of the landslide. Interim New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Lancaster gives us details of the search for the next All Blacks coach. An entrepreneur outlines how he'd give Auckland's CBD a makeover. And on The Huddle, Phil Goff and Trish Sherson have harsh words for Donald Trump's criticism of allied efforts, including New Zealand, in Afghanistan. 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.

As the human tragedy at Mt Maunganui continues, the timeline around warnings and what authorities knew and when they knew it is becoming clearer. Fire and Emergency has confirmed it received a 111 call about landslides on the Mount before 6 o’clock on Thursday morning. As you would expect, it has a robust record-keeping system, which records that call as being at 5.48am. The slips at that time did not affect life or property, and so three minutes later at 5.51am, Fire and Emergency says it notified Tauranga Council as the landowner responsible. But here’s where it gets tricky. Tauranga City Council’s CEO initially said there was no record of the call at the council’s end. Then he was corrected - and that the council did actually receive that call. But given all of the staff who were working and the various calls they were receiving as they responded to weather problems that morning, it’s going to take a bit of time and the independent review to work out the timeline at the council’s end. Personally, I had no idea until this week that landslides kill more people in New Zealand than any other natural disaster. But as the changing climate makes these big weather events much more common, the question of liability is becoming more prescient than ever. In addition to responding to the myriad problems that extreme weather might cause, in addition to modelling for flooding and high winds, councils and landowners need to have a system for assessing landslide risk in different areas and responding in real time as conditions dictate. And one of the critical questions in the independent review will be whether receiving that call from Fire and Emergency about a slip on the Mount would have been enough for the council to evacuate the campground. Did they have an adequate, real time, extreme weather risk management system? Should staff have had to wait for a landslip to be reported? Or should heavy rain have been enough to get people out? The question of liability looms over everything in this tragedy. And it’s my hunch that many councils and landowners around the country will be looking at the terrible events at Mt Maunganui and realising their own systems for assessing real time landslide risk are woefully inadequate. Tauranga Council hopes to have the terms of reference and more detail about the independent review confirmed later this week. But just as Pike River was a catalyst for huge health and safety law reforms, the Mt Maunganui disaster is fast shaping up as a watershed moment for property owners and councils around the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hoping inflation can drop back into the Reserve Bank's target band off the back of the latest data. The annual inflation rate for 2025 was 3.1 percent, up from 3 percent for the year to September. Willis says the Government supports the Reserve Bank getting back to their target band of 1 to 3 percent. "It's inflation that's the broadest driver of the cost of living. At the same time, interest rate reductions have been really important to recovering our economy after a very difficult period, but it's always the case that as the economy recovers, you do expect that eventually interest rates do go up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief among experts that New Zealand depends on the World Health Organisation for disease prevention and health promotion.  The US officially withdrew from the WHO last week.  Now Winston Peters has questioned the organisation's effectiveness and how it's using its funding.  Former WHO director Dr Rob Beaglehole says while the WHO has room to improve, New Zealand ultimately benefits from membership - especially given that future pandemics are 'inevitable'. "The only way to respond effectively, apart from closing borders for a short time, is going to be to work with other countries together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is the benefactor of the World Surf League granting its athletes the left hand break they've been begging for. Raglan's Manu Bay will host the newly instated New Zealand Pro in late May. Surfing New Zealand CEO Ben Kennings says says this is 'huge' for the sport's place in New Zealand. "We can't wait to host those best surfers in the world, it's going to be pretty spectacular." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster has insisted today's coaching policy change isn't an admission of fault when hiring Scott Robertson. NZR has invited Kiwi coaches with international experience to apply for the vacant All Blacks job, something Robertson didn't have. Lancaster says New Zealand is 'incredibly blessed' to have a high calibre of potential coaches and he's confident the right choice will be found. "We're confident that there is a good number of coaches, both here in New Zealand and around the world that are capable of coaching the All Blacks and we don't think we need to go outside of that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of Mount Maunganui's Mauao is unclear, as efforts to recover six people buried in a landslide continue. Iwi leaders say they are yet to have a hui to discuss what the long term plan is.  Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui historian Buddy Mikaere says a rahui is being placed on it now, and there does need to be a rest - which should be taken advantage of. "Have a proper review of the entire Maunga, the track system, to see where likely hazards might be, and to note those and put in place actions that might prevent this from happening again."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament is set to return from tomorrow for a single-week sitting block, but the big day's already been overshadowed. Last week's extreme weather has made a significant impact, with Prime Minister Chris Luxon skipping  Rātana to visit the impacted areas.  Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says it's likely Parliament will pay tribute to those lost to the extreme weather to start the year off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Australia Day today, and the holiday's sparked protests, division and debate about the meaning of the day. Thousands of people took to the streets for the Invasion Day march protesting the holiday, only to clash with protestors out for the March for Australia rally. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says people have raised concerns about the polarising nature of the holiday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby is determined to nail an expedited process, as they open for applications for All Blacks head coach. The criteria for Scott Robertson's replacement states the new person needs experience internationally and must be a New Zealander. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.