Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government has unveiled a new Northern Expressway that goes over Northland's Brynderwyn Hills rather than around. It's released its planned route for Northern Expressway taking it from Warkworth east of State Highway one, over the hills to the east of the current route,  then through Whangarei. This comes instead of a proposed bypass to the west. Northland Regional Council Transport Committee Chair Joe Carr has voiced support for this move.  "People aren't secure in making decisions to do with holidaying and investing in Northland, so it's pretty serious stuff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's another twist in the puzzling disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge - missing from Southland since 2015. During a Coronial hearing in Christchurch today, a witness retracted his earlier claim his cousin had told him he'd helped the pair flee. The father and stepson's car was found in wild sea near the Catlins - below an 88-metre cliff, with no bodies.  Herald reporter Anna Leask says the witness made a complete turnaround  after being shown his police statement. "He read through his statement and said - that's what the police have, in this document, that I didn't say it and I never said that and he didn't say this to me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for Northlanders - as the Government settles on the Northern Expressway option. The new route will run from Warkworth, and be built over the Brynderwyn Hills east of the current route, then through Whangārei.  The road across the Brynderwyns has suffered continued closures, since 2023's severe weather.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's tipped to be a costly project - but a new road is needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has confirmed he's standing 'strongly' behind Pete Hegseth after reports claim he leaked more military plans. Hegseth's wife, lawyer and brother were included on a Signal group chat, where he shared detailed plans about an operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This comes one month after a journalist released messages between top US officials after accidentally being added to their group chat. US correspondent Mitch McCann says Donald Trump has 'dug his heels in' and he's reluctant to let go of Hegseth as US Secretary of Defence.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relief for Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad after putting pen to paper with the NRL club. The 29-year-old will stay at Mt Smart until the end of the 2027 campaign. Nicoll-Klokstad says he couldn't imagine being anywhere else, following reports linking him to a move to UK's Super League. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland Councillor says a new management plan for the Waitākere Ranges is about consultation - not decision-making.  The council wants to set up a regional committee, jointly controlled by Council-and-Government, alongside tangata whenua.  Richard Hills says it's a sounding board, and final decisions would still be made by the council and local boards. He says it would make an already existing process easier - putting all the usual groups consulted in one place.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First of all, can I just say to all Catholics, condolences, obviously, over the passing of the Pope.  It's a big moment for the Catholic Church.  I enjoyed this Pope.  He seemed a little bit more fun than his predecessors, didn't he? He loved football, he loved saying things that got him in trouble, carried his own luggage.  Seems like a normal guy, right? A normal guy who became the Pope.  But if I'm honest with myself, setting that all to one side, I think he was ultimately quite disappointing as the Pope, wasn't he?  Because he said a lot of stuff about wanting to be more liberal and be more inclusive, but he actually didn't do anything, did he?  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church regards gay people.  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church treats divorced people.  He didn't change anything about the fact that women are completely excluded from serving as clergy in the Catholic Church.  Now obviously, a generous explanation of this is that he tried but couldn't, because the Catholic Church is massive.  I mean, there are 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, spanning a huge number of countries, completely different views, and changing something that big and that diverse and actually really fundamentally that conservative, takes a really long time.  And so he did what he could, what he did was enough.  It was enough to kind of set people, set the wheels in motion, if you like, get people talking about being a bit more kind to gay people and divorced people in particular, and that in time, he's planted the seeds that will then come to fruition in years and decades and Lord, maybe even centuries from here.  And maybe that's right.  Maybe that's exactly what he's done.  But then, you know, he was chosen as pope by 3/4 of cardinals, which means that 3/4 of those dudes knew that they were choosing a liberal guy, and they were ready for a liberal guy.  So I look at that, I think that he had a little bit more latitude than he actually used, even for just one change, in just one of those areas, maybe he could have done it.  Also, while I love the fact that he was humble, he lived in a hostel and not a palace, he drove around in a cruddy car and not a flash limousine. He carried his own luggage, washed people's feet in public.  I have to be honest with myself as well about that.  That was performative, and he surely understood what he was doing.  He did those things to be seen.  But did he actually do anything to change the fact that the Catholic Church hoards all of its wealth and lives in opulence of upper levels?  Did he actually do anything beyond this performance?  Now, some commentators reckon that the real test of his legacy is going to be whether the next Pope, the next one that's chosen, is as liberal as he is and can actually push the church just a little bit more in that liberal direction.  And if that does happen, then maybe Francis can be credited with having started some real change within the Catholic Church.  And so, as in most cases, time will really be the judge of his legacy.  But I'll tell you what, right here, if you had told me in 2013 when he was appointed Pope that he would die with nothing changed in the church, I wouldn't have believed it.  So I'm disappointed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles has spoken out after the death of Pope Francis - and says he touched the lives of so many through his care for both people and the planet.  The monarch says he sends his most heartfelt condolences to the Church Francis served with such resolve, and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning his loss.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says the pair got to have one last meeting before the Pope passed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 22 April 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Sir David Moxon, tells Heather what the late Pope was like. NZ First leader Winston Peters explains why we need a legal definition of what makes a woman (and a man). Ukraine's ambassador to NZ reacts to news that NZ has committed to training Ukrainian troops until the end of 2026 - but what could end the war before then? A neuroscientist explains what you should do if your phone notifications give you anxiety. Plus, on the Huddle, two Catholics on the Pope's death, why Josie reckons she's a cafe catholic and why Tim wants to baptise Heather's kids. 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.

Chicken exports are returning to normal after a bird flu outbreak in Otago last year. Last December, New Zealand experienced its first confirmed case of avian influenza on an Otago egg farm and thousands of chickens were culled. While the outbreak was contained to the Hillgrove farm, measures were taken to prevent further spread, including surveillance and temporary suspension of chicken exports. The Country's Rowena Duncum explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88. He sparked plenty of discussion and debate in his time in the role - what did we think of him? MetService copped some backlash over their use of the Emergency Management alerts over the weekend. Should we be able to expect better forecasts and weather warnings from our forecasters? New research shows over half of Kiwis are feeling overwhelmed by phone notifications. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been some positive trade news. Stats NZ data shows goods exports rose 19 percent to $7.6 billion in March - compared to the same time a year ago. Milk powder, butter and cheese rose 35 percent to $2.3 billion. Goods imports rose 12 percent to $6.6 billion. Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon unpacked the factors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's less than a month to go until the 2025 Budget is unveiled - and the Finance Minister has been clear about the goals she aims to tackle. Nicola Willis says New Zealand has been in a significant deficit since 2019, and she's determined to get back into surplus by 2027/2028. She explained getting the country back into surplus will help to pay down debt. "We're borrowing every day right now to keep our hospitals, schools and police going - but we can't do that forever as a country, we need to get the books back in balance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has revealed another significant impact our phones are having on our mental health. New research reveals half of all New Zealanders over 18 now feel overrun by notifications on their phones - particularly those in the Gen Z cohort.  Neuroscientist Kathryn Berkett says our devices are training us to be on alert for anything - and those anxious feelings aren't good for our overall well-being. "We don want to know that people care about us and like us- so that's all we're asking people. Not to walk away from it, but to control it, to have a bit more control rather than it controlling you." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says the term 'woman' needs protection - by a bill legally defining it as an adult human biological female.  MP Jenny Marcroft's proposed Members bill would legislate gender to biological sex, essentially meaning transgender people could not legally align with their identities. The New Zealand First leader says having to write the law this way is unusual, but it has become 'critical'.  "And the fact of the matter is - that this is a case where women, who are deserving protection and support in many other occasions, are simply not getting it in our law." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More questions have been raised after a twist in the disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge in 2015. The pair disappeared after John Beckenridge broke a court order and took his 11-year-old stepson from his Invercargill school.  A coronal hearing into the case adjourned in 2023 - but has resumed with five new witnesses.  A friend allegedly told people they'd assisted them, and that they're alive. Senior NZ Herald crime reporter, Anna Leask, says police were made aware of the story mid-last year.  "I think that's one of the big questions that will be asked - why did it come out when it did?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The openness and compassion of Pope Francis may carry over to the next pontiff to take up his title.  The Head of the Catholic Church died last night after a stroke - he was 88.  A period of mourning has begun.  Worshippers will flock to the Vatican in the coming days to farewell Pope Francis, including the Cardinals who will elect his successor.  Former representative to the Holy See, Sir David Moxon, says the Pope chose most of the Cardinals - so he'd expect them to value a warm and loving Church. "I think that it would be highly likely that the next Pope would be someone who would respect the pontificate of Pope Francis." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First wants the definition of a woman and a man etched into the law. Britain's Supreme Court has ruled the legal definition should relate to biological sex - excluding transgender women. Leader Winston Peters says the Bill would define a woman as an adult human biological female, and a man as an adult human biological male.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's unclear if a Bill of this nature will come to pass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women and younger voters have turned their backs on the opposition party ahead of the upcoming Australian election, according to new polls. The Coalition is trailing Labor 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis - and those figures get wider when broken down by demographic. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Coalition is also losing ground in key battleground areas - including Western Sydney and Western Melbourne. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A switch to rugby league is almost certainly off the table for rugby great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. The three-time Olympic sevens medalist is emerging from international retirement to have a crack at adding to her two Rugby World Cup gold medals later this year. Woodman-Wickliffe had a move to the NRL-W blocked this year due to her ambassadorial role for union's premier event. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has revealed that New Zealand will be extending its military assistance in support of Ukraine's self-defence until December 2026. Luxon says this announcement signals New Zealand's ongoing commitment to Ukraine in the fact of Russia's aggression. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and Australia says Russia won't be giving up any time soon - and support is still needed. "Russia is belligerent, Russia is authoritarian, and Russia is not giving up on Ukraine, so we do still need to have a strong army - and New Zealand's Government is making a very significant contribution to improve on our military capabilities, for which we are extremely thankful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The day to day implications of a landmark UK court ruling - that the term woman refers to biological sex  - are not yet known. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled the definition of sex is binary and cannot apply to those with a gender recognition certificate. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains what this ruling could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With China and the US promising trade war escalations, economists are speculating about the future of the tariffs and how they'll impact global economies. Some have have drawn parallels with the Great Depression - and warned the world should be prepared for a downturn.  Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Craig Renney from the CTU joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour is talking up the potential of a snap election, saying 'we are ready'. Do we think there's a chance Winston Peters is going to blow it all up - or is Labour just stirring?  Do we think Simeon Brown is being too hard on the senior doctors - given how badly we need them in this country? New Zealanders’ concerns about the impact of climate change has declined to 69 percent from 76 percent in 2022 and 80 percent in 2023. Why do we care less?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it is the agriculture sector that's pulling New Zealand out of a recession. Luxon spoke about the success agriculture was seeing on a trip to Taranaki on Thursday where he met with local businesses and trades. He said agriculture was the 'backbone of New Zealand' and praised how much it generated for the nation.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows inflation's gone up again - and there's concerns about what it could mean going forward. The latest Stats NZ figures put the rate at 2.5 percent, up from 2.2 percent three months ago. It's the first time it's risen in almost three years. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this could mean for the state of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 17 April 2025, the cost of living is on the rise again so will the OCR keep falling? KiwiRail apologises for misleading customers about compensation. A lawyer explains the implications of the UK's Supreme Court ruling on what defines a woman. Auckland FC co-owner Ali Williams in studio with Heather to talk about his proposed new stadium for Auckland ... and his helipad application. Plus, the Huddle gets fiery when Heather asked if senior doctors deserve a payrise. 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.

Genesis Energy has confirmed it plans to shift its focus over to coal, as gas production declines and no other suitable sources have been found. Genesis has made clear it sees a declining role for gas in electricity generation - despite the Government's attempts to get offshore oil and gas exploration going properly.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie isn't surprised by this - given the associated challenges.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the term woman should be based on biological sex.  The judges ruled that the 2010 Equality Act's sex based protections only apply to biological women.  The decision has been hotly contested after the Scottish Government argued that transgender people with a gender recognition certificate were entitled to them.  Liam Hehir, partner at Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers, says it's a significant ruling for the purposes of the Equality Act - but it has its' boundaries.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've got a lot of time for Simeon Brown - he's a very good politician, but I reckon he might want to take the advice of Chris Hipkins - a man who was also once the Health Minister - and just tone down the fighting talk. Because accusing the striking senior doctors of the worst kind of politics is not going to help anyone. The only thing that is going to help right now is money - and he is simply going to have to pony up the cash and pay those doctors a lot more. Look, I know, there will not be a lot of public sympathy for doctors who are on that kind of money - whether it's $350,000 like Simeon claims or only $250,000 like the doctors claim - it doesn't matter whether we think they're paid not enough or too much What matters is what the rest of the world pays, because that’s who we are competing against for senior doctors.  NSW, I've been told, is the part of Australia that pays senior doctors the least, and their starting pay is more than what our senior doctors get on the highest level here. And they, by the way, just had a three-day strike themselves. We already have such a shortage of senior doctors in this country that in Taupo Hospital not even a third of the positions are filled. I don't know how they're running that place. So while I appreciate that Simeon Brown is a very good politician and could well end up wining the PR battle against the doctors - ultimately, it's not the voters he has to convince, it's the doctors.  And there, money talks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are reiterating the importance of combating climate change, concerned Kiwi buy-in appears to be fading. An Ipsos report shows the proportion of New Zealanders concerned about the impact of climate change in Aotearoa has fallen from 80 percent two years ago - to 69 percent. Greens Environment spokesperson Lan Pham says ignoring the climate crisis, will not make the problem go away. "We know communities are really struggling at the moment - and it's hard for people to think of the future when they're actually having to focus on surviving the cost of living crisis." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US tariffs are expected to impact our next inflation figures, according to new reports. The rate increased in the three months to March to 2.5 percent - up from 2.2 percent to December. Petrol, milk, cheese, eggs have all gone up, alongside a dip in prices for international flights and games. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says the new tariffs could push inflation down because of weaker demand. "And we know there will be some cost pressures that do rise because of the changing trade situation. So it's mixed, but the sentiment is pushing towards maybe a little less inflation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interislander's operator is promising to cough up for ferry disruptions. A Commerce Commission investigation found KiwiRail may have breached the law by suggesting cancelled sailings were out of their control. Mechanical events leading to cancellations will now almost always trigger compensation. Chief customer officer Adele Wilson says people incurred some high costs from cancellations.  "As we were trying to catch up the schedule, we had another event - and so people who'd been rebooked, unfortunately some of them were delayed again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has clarified it does not support Te Pāti Māori’s policy for Māori to receive New Zealand Superannuation seven to 10 years before everyone else. Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds declined the opportunity to shoot down the idea when first asked to share her view - but the party has since confirmed their stance. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Labour's initial hesitancy in clarifying their stance here doesn't paint a good picture of the party's future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's AUKUS deal is facing additional pressures as the US is calling for an increase in defence spending. The US and the United Kingdom have both launched reviews into the multi-billion-dollar submarine deal amid production and tariff-based concerns.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says costs have already blown out to over $400 billion and counting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The departing head coach of the Wellington Phoenix women's footballers concedes he's unsure what's next. Paul Temple has not been offered a contract renewal and will wind up with his side's final game of the season against Western United on Sunday. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New images have given Aucklanders a closer look at the Western Springs Stadium proposal backed by Auckland FC and their billionaire owners. The images and a new video feature in a campaign to generate public support for the stadium, which has been called Auckland Arena. The website said there would be zero cost to the ratepayer with $300 million in private funding secured already to deliver the project. Auckland FC co-owner Ali Williams says Aucklanders deserve a smaller, intimate 'family-friendly' stadium - and this presents the perfect opportunity.  "You've got to remember that the sport is not just about the product on the field, it's about the vibe outside the field, around the field, it's about families feeling comfortable, it's about people being passionate and bringing communities together."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New digital border checks expected to hit millions of people travelling to and from Europe are set to come into effect this October. The new Entry/Exit System will replace current passport stamping, requiring visitors from outside the EU to register fingerprints, a photo, and passport details to enter the region. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this is expected to be a 'complicated' process set to lead to delays. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is staying tight-lipped, as Te Pāti Māori says Māori should receive New Zealand Superannuation seven to 10 years before everyone else. Meanwhile, the Green Party supports lowering the age of eligibility for Super for some groups in society. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says this has prompted a divided response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Wellington Water has copped backlash over spending significant amounts on wellness-based perks for their employees. What do we make of this?  Former Labour leader Andrew Little has announced his intention to run for mayor of Wellington. Is this a good move? Will he get votes?  The Maori Party wants Maori to get NZ Super 7-10 years before everyone else and Labour is refusing to say whether it would agree. The Greens are on board with giving some parts of society Super earlier. Is this the best look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration has hinted it could be looking into imposing tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the country. Pharmac has since claimed the impact of these tariffs is 'unclear' - as it's unknown how it would affect the price of medicines at this stage. Medicines NZ chief executive Dr Graeme Jarvis says it's too early to tell, and he doesn't want anyone to react too rashly. "Around 20 percent of pharmaceutical manufacture is done in the US, the rest of it they import from global supply chains around the world at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 16 April 2025, Wellington's worst kept secret is out of the bag: former Labour leader Andrew Little is running for mayor. He tells Heather what he'd do with the much-debated Golden Mile.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis gets a grilling over the Reserve Bank's funding - is the bank getting a budget cut or actually a boost? Why Heather doesn't think cracking down on junk food advertising will do anything to help with kids eating junk food. Plus, the Huddle debates the Māori Party's call that Māori should get the NZ Super 10 years early. 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.

ANZ is speculating interest rates will drop lower than previously expected - as the economy is predicted to need extra help to recover. The bank believes the OCR will bottom out at 2.5 percent, down from the 3 percent low that was previously predicted. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says it's likely the Reserve Bank will give the economy an additional 'push in the back' to help boost a recovery. "It's too soon to make any concrete judgements on what might happen to our commodity prices or anything like that - but it does seem pretty likely that some pretty full-on uncertainty is going to persist for quite a long time."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water's boss is defending spending ratepayer money on skincare for staff and mindfulness workshops. The under-fire agency has confirmed it spent more than $10,000 on wellbeing workshops in the recent financial year - including nutritionists and skin checks. Chief Executive Pat Dougherty says it's important to be a caring employer. "Good staff are hard to find - you'll want to attract them and keep them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is confident in the operational funding she's giving the Reserve Bank.  Nicola Willis has signed the bank up to a new five-year agreement - 25 percent under the billion dollars sought by the central bank. Willis says she's peeled back the $200 million a year the Reserve Bank had budgeted for - to $150 million. "Not just - are we taking it back to that figure? But we're saying, we want you to stop this pattern of the number escalating every year. We want that to hold steady." Willis says the 750-million dollar budget gives the Bank enough to carry out its statutory functions well.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers say junk food advertising needs tighter controls.  A paper has found children aged 2 to 17 see twice as many ads for unhealthy food than healthier options.  The authors want limits on online ads for unhealthy food - and a ban on using cartoon characters in packaging.  Co-author Lisa Te Morenga says such advertising intensifies the desire children already feel for junk food - and the constant barrage of ads makes children want it more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little's feeling confident about his odds as he announces a bid to run for mayor of Wellington. He made the announcement this morning - and explained that the capital's in a fragile place and needs strong leadership. Little says he's spoken to people and found that the council has become 'directionless'. "I've just had so many people from across the spectrum and from so many different sort of backgrounds approaching me...I thought I had to think about this again - and I thought I do have a set of skills that can help." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has unveiled a major reduction to the Central Bank's planned spending. The Government and the Reserve Bank have agreed to reduce operating expenses by a quarter in the coming year. They've signed a five-year funding agreement, allowing $750 million of operating expenses, well below the $1 billion the Bank was asking for. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacks the announcement further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US president is in no rush to reverse the wrongful deportation of a man to Central America. Donald Trump has been meeting with the president of El Salvador at the White House. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that the US must allow for Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return, both leaders are batting away calls. Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011, but in 2019 an immigration judge withheld his removal due to threats in his home country. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Donald Trump has expressed interest in deporting US citizens who are considered violent criminals to El Salvador - which has sparked further concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new weight division to conquer for boxer Mea Motu as she eyes a return to the ring later this year. The former super bantamweight world champion will move up two weight classes, having lost her IBO title in January against IBF and WBO belt holder Ellie Scotney.  Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.