Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Education Minister's not ruling out banning other digital distractions in schools. An Education Review Office report shows three-quarters of secondary school teachers believe student behaviour's improved since cellphones were outlawed in class. It's also recommending considering also excluding smart watches and social media. Education Minister Erica Stanford says she's open to the ideas. "We're certainly going to take ERO's recommendations into account and I'll get the Ministry to give me some advice, but I certainly think we probably do need to go further. But that'll obviously be a decision I need to take to Cabinet."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing speculation Chris Luxon is at risk of being rolled ahead of the election, with Chris Bishop being touted as a potential replacement.  An opinion piece by Audrey Young was released today, and it claimed that Labour was going extra hard on Bishop over the cycleway project because he was likely to take over the party by 2026. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says National's taking a hit in the polls and there's discussions about Luxon's leadership abilities taking place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve got a possibly controversial opinion about standing up at concerts. Last night, I went to see Metallica. Incredible show - way better than I gave them credit for yesterday. But here’s what happened. We were in the stands, seated tickets. A few rows ahead, there was this guy who, the second Metallica hit the stage, jumped to his feet. Everyone else stayed seated, but not him. Hands in the air, devil horns flying, head-banging, air guitar, singing every lyric. He was having the best night of his life - and honestly, watching him made the rest of us enjoy it more. Not everyone agreed. People behind him started throwing cans. They hit him in the back; he ignored it. Then a couple of women clambered over seats, smacked him on the back, told him to sit down. He ignored that too. Eventually, a guy from way back stormed down, leaned across rows, got into a shouting match, even tried to physically drag him into his seat. After a few minutes, the head-banger gave in and sat down. But he couldn’t help himself. Every time a new song started, he popped back up - horns up, air guitar blazing -before remembering he was “supposed” to sit. This went on until he finally squeezed into the stairwell so he could thrash without blocking anyone’s view. You could tell it wasn’t the same; cramped space, less freedom. Here’s my take: If you’re at a concert, you should be able to stand up and have the best time of your life - even if you bought a seated ticket. If someone in front of you stands, sorry, you’re going to have to stand too. It’s not okay to demand someone sit for the whole show. It’s music, not a movie. And it’s Metallica, not the Symphony Orchestra. I’m with the metal-head from last night. He paid good money to enjoy himself. If that means horns up, air guitar, and head-banging - let him do it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian teenagers have been warned their accounts of Facebook, Instagram and Threads will be shut down ahead of the country's incoming social media ban. Meta has confirmed it has started notifying users between 13 and 15 years old by text, email and in-app messages that their accounts would be deactivated come December.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Meta has encouraged young users to download their content now, before the data gets removed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pride from Silver Ferns interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie after completing their 2025 season on a high. New Zealand's overcome adversity to down England 55-49 in Manchester and claim the series 2-1. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-term US study shows water fluoridation at recommended levels doesn't reduce cognitive ability. The 40-year study found children who drank such water did slightly better in school tests. By 60, that edge was insignificant, but fluoride didn't contribute to cognitive decline. Dentist Justin Wall says this puts this particular argument to bed - but theories about fluoride are bound to continue. "People would probably blame fluoride for mullet haircuts and not getting the Lotto numbers right if they could. But at the end of the day, fluoride is very highly researched." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government has confirmed it aims to ban people from reselling tickets from live events to make a profit. Restricting ticket scalpers was one of the Labour Government's election pledges, and it comes after  Sam Fender, Dua Lipa and Coldplay urged Sir Keir Starmer to take action. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says more details of this plan will be revealed soon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is delaying hiking the levy most home owners pay via their private insurers to fund the Natural Hazards Commission until 2027. The $552 levy was supposed to go up by between $207 and $311, but reports claim ministers are still considering their options, with Finance Minister Nicola Willis saying she didn't want to make a 'hurried decision'. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to reveal their latest OCR update next week, but experts aren't feeling too hopeful about the economy. GDP is down and the labour market remains weak, and many are feeling less optimistic. Milford Asset Management's Brendan Larsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has moved to pause prescription on puberty blockers - what do we make of this?  Winston Peters is celebrating how much money he's saving the country with our new Cook Strait ferries. Do we see the costs blowing out on this one? The Breakers are being criticised for deciding not to wear a rainbow flag on their jersey for the NBL's Pride Round. What do we make of the backlash? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 19 November 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters says he's saved taxpayers more than two billion dollars with his new Interislander ferry deal. But does the maths add up? Rotorua's days as a emergency housing hotspot are officially over. Mayor Tania Tapsell reacts to news the last people have officially left emergency motel accommodation. Health Minister Simeon Brown explains why the Government is banning transgender kids from accessing puberty blockers. Kiwi families are facing the pinch as Christmas is looming, personal finance expert Mary Holm has some tips how you can stretch the money further. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Winston's ferry announcement is convincing. 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 would not be a drama today about the Breakers basketball team not wanting to wear the rainbow flag on their jerseys if the basketball league had stayed out of politics in the first place. Now, if you haven't caught up on this, there is unnecessary upset today because it's emerged that the entire Breakers team will not wear that little rainbow Pride flag on their jerseys during Pride Round next year because some of the players don't want to. And it's for religious and cultural reasons, apparently. So because some of the players don't want to, the whole team won't. Now, as you can imagine, this has absolutely blown up and it has led to accusations of homophobia, accusations of bigotry, accusations of cowardice. And look, I don't know, maybe all those accusations are right, but this didn't have to happen. They didn't have to have this drama if they hadn't tried to get all of the players to wear a symbol that you can guarantee some players wouldn't want to wear, because statistically that had to be a possibility when you had 150 players rostered on for any particular season.Now, I don't think that this kind of rainbow-washing helps anyone. There is no need for a random sports league to run any kind of a week, whether it be Pride Week or Indigenous Week, or Women's Menstrual Rights Week. I don't know what kind of week, you just don't need it. Maybe it sells a few tickets - probably not a lot - but it can backfire and it has backfired in this case. So now instead of looking inclusive to the rainbow community, the NBL looks the complete opposite and has accusations of homophobia coming at it. Now, you would have thought that everyone under the sun would have learned from the massive rugby league debacle three years ago when those seven Manly players refused to wear the Pride jersey. And yet, the basketball league decided to start up its own Pride Week the very next year, having learned nothing. Now, I say this all of the time, and I will say this again - sports needs to stay out of politics. There is no real upside in it and there's way too much downside, and this is a case in point. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows that more Kiwis will have to take on debt ahead of this coming Christmas season. A nationwide survey by MYOB showed 35 percent expected to feel financially better off in a year's time, while 38 percent expected to be about the same, and 24 percent believed they would be worse off. Personal finance expert Mary Holm says more Kiwi households will be struggling to afford presents for their kids, but there are workarounds. "There's buying only op-shop gifts or second-hand books, which could be quite fun, going and rummaging around bookshops to find the right gift for people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No child will be able to start taking puberty blockers from December 19. The Government says the Ministry of Health has found a lack of evidence for the benefits or risks of gender dysphoria or incongruence treatment - gonadotropin - releasing hormone analogues. Health Minister Simeon Brown says they're putting up safeguards until more evidence is available.  "Effectively, what we're doing is putting in place a restriction on the prescribing of these drugs for this purpose to make sure that those who are prescribing look at the wider range of treatments or things that can be done." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland bars are heaving as Metallica prepares to rock Eden Park tonight - its first Kiwi concert in 15 years. About 40,000 visitor nights have been booked for the sell-out concert, with the city’s hotels at 100 percent capacity. Roads near Eden Park are closed until midnight. Kingsland's Full-Time Bar manager, Shane Don, says business is booming this afternoon. "We're stacked in here, everyone's kitted out like bogans, I'm kitted out like a bogan, and I honestly feel like I've walked back 30 years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's mayor is overjoyed the era of emergency housing motels is over - with no families left in them.  At its peak, more than 240 households were living across 13 motels Tania Tapsell says delivering affordable houses has made a huge difference.  She says the city's recent tourism lift has also helped mend its reputation.  "Between building the homes we actually needed, affordable ones, and boosting our economy, it's going to be great. Our tourism industry here is the heartbeat of Rotorua." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says logic has prevailed, as he confirms our new Cook Strait ferries are coming in under $2 billion dollars.  The new Interislander vessels are expected to arrive in 2029 under budget. The Rail Minister claims it's saved the taxpayer more than $2 billion on the canned mega-ferries project.  Peters says he's confident the Government's done the right thing. "This is common sense we're applying here, there are contingencies in our plan as well. And to cover off any concerns you've got...we've got together a hard-nosed team." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Smokefree 2025 goal was created in 2010 with the hope that fewer than 5 percent of Kiwis will smoke by 2025, but that's looking unlikely. The annual New Zealand Health survey's confirmed rates are stagnating just below 7 percent - and vaping rates growing.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump appears to have had his hand forced, over the Jeffrey Epstein files.  A bipartisan bill compelling the Justice Department to release case documents relating to the deceased convicted sex offender has overwhelming Congress support.  The President - who's repeatedly denied links to Epstein - must now sign it into law. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says it's unknown when these files will be released, but that detail is up to the Department of Justice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breakers’ decision not to wear the rainbow pride flag in next year’s NBL Pride Round has prompted mixed reactions. The Auckland-based basketball club is facing public backlash after becoming the second club to opt out of the pride jersey since the round began in January 2023. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's little hope New Zealand can reach its 2025 smoke-free targets.  The annual New Zealand Health survey has confirmed rates are stagnating just below 7 percent, with 12 percent of adult Kiwis vaping daily. Auckland University School of Public Health's Kathryn Bradbury says this smoking plateau - follows 10 to 15 years of really good progress. "The goal is to get under five percent - I mean, we're pretty close. But it looks unlikely." The study also shows a third of adults are obese - and just 7 percent eat the recommended daily veggie intake.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concern about how many people drop out of apprenticeships, according to new reports. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds has told a conference more than half of trainees aren't completing training. She says it's driven by a number of reasons, but she's pointing the finger at the previous Government incentivising training. Simmonds says it means many signed up despite not being that interested - and didn't complete their apprenticeship. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to impose visa bans on three African countries if they fail to take back their illegal migrants. Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo face visa sanctions set to block tourists, VIPs and business officials from travelling to Britain if they don't co-operate. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the Government is hoping to reassure voters it can be tough on migration amid concerns from the opposition.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse is being his hard by the tough economic conditions. New reports show profits are down and the retail giant is looking to slash jobs. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's largest mānuka honey producer's voted down a richlister takeover bid, leaving its fate in limbo.  Comvita received an offer of 80-cents-per-share in August from Florenz - a subsidiary of Christchurch billionaire Mark Stewart’s Masthead Limited.  Comvita CEO Karl Gradon explained how the company could bounce back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Schools across the country are mobilising and publicly committing to upholding the Treaty, despite the Government's plan to remove the obligations from boards. Luxon has said the schools shouldn't focus on politics - does he have a point?  New polls show the Government's falling out of favour with voters and Kiwis are split on the capital gains tax. What can the Government do to improve?  Uber drivers have won the battle against Uber in the Supreme Court. The court has ruled that Uber drivers are employees. Is this the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 17 November 2025, Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains why the Government is moving to make importing dirty cars cheaper. The Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers are employees, Anita Rosentreter from the Workers First Union speaks about the implications for drivers. Finance Minister Nicola Willis gives a very strong hint about next year's election date, and reveals when she found out that Andrew Coster was part of an IPCA investigation into disgraced Jevon McSkimming. MBIE's Ian Caplin explains what parents need to know about the magic sand asbestos warning. Plus, the Huddle debates polls that show Kiwis support for Labour's CGT and why the Government is rating so poorly in the latest Ipsos survey. 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.

These polls that keep showing Labour ahead of National are a sign of how crap the economy is. Up until a few weeks ago, I was ignoring polls because Labour didn't have any policy. Labour was ahead, but it didn't have any policy. I thought, well this is a protest vote. They're pissed at National for not fixing the mess Labour left behind. But the voters are not stupid. And they're voting for the no-policy party as a protest, not because they'd actually vote for them. But now, Labour has some policies - albeit three. Including the contentious capital gains tax. And they will love how this has played for them so far, because it hasn't actually been a terrible mess. So now that Labour has more policies, confirming they are indeed the party of more tax and more spend, the numbers should be turning, but they're not. The latest IPSOS poll shows voters trust Labour more on the economy, the cost of living - and basically everything but foreign affairs and law and order. And foreign affairs is Winston Peters! The economy should turn around - green shoots next year, etc, etc. But people aren't feeling that yet. So National's strategy of wait and hope till November next year is looking riskier by the day. As for the leadership question - well, Jacinda didn't teach us much about that. But  what we did learn from her is that you can switch leaders really close to an election day and not crash your vote. In fact, you can actually increase it. So an 11th hour switch to Stanford or Bish or whoever will remain a live option right up till D-day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New polling data has revealed less Kiwis have faith the current Government can turn the economy around ahead of the upcoming election. A New Zealand Herald-Kantar poll has found voters are evenly split on Labour's proposed capital gains tax and about 45 percent of respondents in an IPSOS survey scored the Luxon-led Government below 3 out of 10. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's clear a significant number of people are still opposed to the capital gains tax and  the Government has plenty of time to expose the negative impacts. "There's also a big, undecided group in the middle and those are the people that we will be speaking to between now and the election." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing number of school boards are making public statements confirming their commitment to the Treaty after the Government announced it would cut the requirements. Previously, the Education Act said schools must ensure their plans, policies, and local curriculum reflect tikanga Māori, but the Government's looking to change it. Queens High school board chair Kate Keddell says schools have been weaving in Te Tiriti obligations into curriculums and the standards won't impact students. "We're just continuing on with the focus that we've been asked to do in the last few years...we are weaving it into our strategies."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a growing push for a future relationship between Uber and the unions, including collective bargaining.  Four drivers have officially won their battle to be recognised as employees in a Supreme Court ruling announced today.  Uber argued they were contractors.  Workers First Union deputy secretary, Anita Rosentreter, says the Employment Relations Authority can now calculate how much Uber owes other members.  "But what about the system going forwards? Clearly, it's not been working for people through the collective bargaining process, we really want to improve the Uber system for all drivers."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister says the Government's focused on getting details right - in a speedy change to the 2023 Clean Vehicle Standard - this week. It originally gave importers credits for meeting carbon targets, and charged them for missing.  The Government will now slash them nearly 80 percent, to prevent charges landing consumers. Chris Bishop says they're focused on rolling out change very quickly. "The take-home point for people listening is that they're no longer going to be slugged with potentially thousands of dollars of extra charges just for buying a car next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices are soaring for food staples, with prices up 4.7 percent on a year ago. Stats NZ data for October shows cheese, instant coffee, eggs and milk had some of the largest surges.  Gas rose 14.4 percent and electricity almost 12 percent Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen says fruit and vegetables are cheaper - but not meat. "A couple of months ago, right, we were talking a lot about butter. Mince is now the new butter in a sense, given that that's increased, I think, $23 a kilo." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's pointing to market changes and consumer costs as motivation for changing 2023's Clean Vehicle Standard.  It gave importers credits for meeting carbon targets, and charged them if they missed.   But Transport Minister Chris Bishop says charges are falling on the consumer, which will now be slashed nearly 80 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's wasted no time getting this through.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Victorian police say they've seized a record number of knives and machetes this year, amid growing concerns about knife crime. Police say at least 15,000 knives, machetes and zombie knives had been taken off the streets and destroyed so far in 2025. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's been a targeted push to get rid of bladed weapons, especially following the recent machete ban. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are doing their best to overcome major disappointment and spark up for their final test of the year. The team arrived in Cardiff from London via bus for the 13th and final match - with a number of changes expected in the side to face the Welsh. Cam Roigard and Beauden Barrett are unlikely to play, although would have expected bench roles at most. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further - and unpacked whether Razor should be worried.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MBIE says it's working hard to deal with issues regarding sand products potentially contaminated with asbestos.  EC Rainbow Sand 1.3 kilos, Creatistics Coloured Sand, 1 kilo, and four Kmart NZ Magic Sand products have been recalled. MBIE Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin says they are acting with an abundance of caution - and people shouldn't panic.  "The potential impact of asbestos exposure is a long-term thing, people don't need to take immediate steps to manage their health." Anyone concerned about health effects should call Healthline.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 though. And just not to pick on Deborah here, because this is what everybody's doing. This is the story of every single COP, isn't it? Thousands of people fly into a place burning up who knows how many emissions, only to have a gab fest, issue a bunch of press releases and really achieve nothing. A massive net negative for the climate. That's what COP is. You know what the big news story out of COP is today? That it's failed. 1.5 is dead. It will not be achieved. This was what we were told we needed to do to save humanity. Hit 1.5, keep the temperature rises to 1.5, no more. We have known for a while that 1.5 is dead. It is now officially dead. So Deborah is flying to a conference that has already admitted that the aim of COP 26, which is four conferences ago, which was to keep 1.5 alive, is actually dead in the water. In which case, it begs the question, why do we keep wasting emissions to go to an annual get-together that fails every single year? I think I've got the answer, because it means a week in Brazil. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

An Australian Mayor is warning of the unforeseen consequences of a rates cap.  Minister of Local Government Simon Watts says he will advance rate cap policy discussions before the end of the year. Sue Heins, mayor of the Northern Beaches Council in New South Wales, told a Local Government New Zealand conference it leads to councils making impossible choices. She told Heather du Plessis-Allan it leads to things like delayed infrastructure repairs and sports grounds with outdated facilities.  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.