Larry Williams Drive

ACT MP Simon Court has revealed he was shot in a drug deal gone wrong in his pre-parliament life. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper says, aged 17, Court went camping with friends - who got some marijuana. Court reportedly wasn't involved with the deal, but that evening, the group were violently threatened by the drug sellers. Soper says Court was seriously injured. "The gunman, in fact, shot him in the foot. The foot apparently needed reconstructive surgery, he was in hospital for six weeks." Speaking exclusively to Newstalk ZB, Court says he was left stranded. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A moment of madness has marred England's World Cup round of 16 penalty shootout win over Nigeria in Brisbane. Lauren James was red-carded in the 87th minute for stomping on a Nigerian player. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A small percentage of Aucklanders have been caught using phones while driving. A six month Waka Kotahi safety camera trial across the city picked up 2.4 percent of drivers holding cell phones. There were 242,000 potential offences, including not wearing seatbelts. Fines won't be issued as police weren't involved. Road safety campaigner Greg Murphy says that was with only three cameras, picking up activity at a given moment. "So what's to say that someone that drove past that camera- 2 seconds later, picked up their phone? That person's never going to be registered by them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first wave of asylum seekers will be moved to the Bibby Stockholm barge to await the outcome of their applications. Under the controversial scheme, beset by delays, up to 500 men aged 18-65 will be housed on the barge to await decisions on their visa. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the barge will be docked off the Dorset coast, and the residents will be able to step off their accommodation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour have announced plans for a second Waitemata Harbour crossing, with two three-lane tunnels for vehicles and a separate Light Rail tunnel. Is this plan credible coming from Labour?  The Green Party have pitched a a New Zealand Dental Service offering free basic and specialist care to be paid for by a wealth tax. Is this a pipe dream? Tobacco companies are financially supporting the Save Our Stores campaign, which includes a petition to "save" dairies from smokefree initiatives. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meat exporters have been watching the global spat between the US and China, and some worry New Zealand may be caught in the crossfire. New Zealand's leading trade negotiator Vangelis Vitalis has warned the golden weather for trade policy is over and the region has to be careful going forward. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says tensions are high between the US and China and New Zealand won't want to get drawn into either security camp. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three gunmen are on the run following separate shootings in the past week. Police are hunting 24-year-old Dariush Talagi, after two people were shot on Queen Street in Central Auckland on Thursday night. Auckland police have also launched a homicide investigation, after a man was shot at Taurima Reserve in Point England on Saturday. Another person later showed up at Middlemore Hospital with a gunshot wound, and police are looking at whether the cases are linked. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the uptick in shootings is unbelievable, and more Kiwis have good reason to be worried. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Auckland social services charity the Waipareira Trust and chief executive John Tamihere have reached their deadline to settle an outstanding loan. $385,307 was taken from the Trust to pay for John Tamihere's mayoral campaign and Te Pāti Māori's general election campaign- in breach of the law. NZ Herald reporter Matt Nippert says this investigation has been ongoing since the end of 2019- and Tamihere is running out of options. "It's got the nuclear option- deregistration. Which effectively strips an entity of its charitable status and it has to pay tax again. They also get levied a tax across their net assets." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is denying there's a fiscal hole in the Government's books. Treasury is expected to open their accounts ahead of the election, giving an accurate picture of the Crown's finances. Grant Robertson says the Government's debt levels had been published in the budget- and they're not $20 billion in the hole. "We have ongoing conversations, but nothing has been firmed up at all, and that's the nature of this. The economy is in better shape than it was, say, a year ago." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love the Auckland harbour transport plan, don’t you? Who doesn’t want to get across the harbour more easily and doesn’t want some more roads for cars? But surely no one believes Labour’s going to do this. Not only because they can’t deliver jack- do I need to mention KiwiBuild or Light Rail or Let’s Get Wellington Moving- but mainly because no one rational believes Labour actually wants to build expensive roads for cars. Come on.    Labour's spent the last six years cancelling roads and trying to convince New Zealand to build a bike-only bridge across the harbour and trying to convince us to get out of our cars. Does anyone actually believe that they’ve suddenly changed their minds and they're all in on roads for cars?  Not a chance. So what’s going on here? This is straight out populist politics. They're just announcing what they think we want to hear. Their heart is not in it. Their heart is in trains and bikes and cycleways. Which means it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. And you’re a sucker if you

Revelations the Government didn't follow advice to shut down a South Auckland youth justice residence, Korowai Manaaki. Former police commissioner Mike Bush's probe last year claims it was a 'near-miracle' no-one's been killed or seriously hurt. Stuff reports it also mentions the 'under-qualified' workforce can't deal with the teens there. A roof stand-off with youngsters in June was ended with KFC handouts. Youth worker Aaron Hendry says their needs should be prioritised. "The Government has a parental responsibility over the children they take into their care, and it needs to ensure that it is providing the right and adequate support to look after those young people. And time and time again, that is just not happening." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's choice for a second Waitemata Harbour crossing is being called 'comical'. It includes two three-lane tunnels for vehicles and a 21 kilometre light rail tunnel between Albany and the CBD. It'll take decades to finish and cost tens of billions of dollars. Greater Auckland director Matt Lowrie disapproves of the high cost and projected emissions, and says there are better uses for $40 billion. "Proper public transport to the Northwest, out East, to the airport and Botany, round Upper Harbour- there are plenty of places where we could spend $40 billion to vastly improve transport all around Auckland." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are no bolters in the All Blacks squad heading to the Rugby World Cup starting in France next month. Selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have named the 33-strong All Blacks squad in Napier this afternoon, in front of almost 2000 locals. The squad features 18 forwards and 15 backs, with three hookers, six props, four locks, five loose forwards, three halfbacks, three first five-eighths, four midfielders and five outside backs. ZB rugby editor Elliot Smith says the squad's newest pick, Cam Roigard, was an obvious choice, as he had made a strong debut. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia, three people are dead and a fourth is in a critical condition after eating a meal containing toxic wild mushrooms. Victorian Police have questioned and released one person without charge. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says it's a small community in Leongatha, South Gippsland. "This is an awful set of circumstances. Could you just think- having that family gathering and having a meal with some friends, you'd be going home at the end of the day. What was in these mushrooms, where did they get these mushrooms?" LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Foster is set to unveil the 33 players to contest the William Webb Ellis Cup come November. There's speculation that some unconventional picks could be made, with Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Emoni Narawa, and Shaun Stevenson in ply for the outside backs. Sportstalk host Jason Pine shares his predictions here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A campaign to save local businesses from the Smokefree 2025 Act may not be the work of concerned dairy owners.  A new report shows tobacco companies are supporting a campaign called Save Our Stores, which includes a petition to "save" dairies from smokefree initiatives. Health Coalition Aotearoa Smokefree panel expert Andrew Waa isn't surprised the tobacco industry is behind this initiative, but he's concerned for the dairy owners themselves. "I'd be concerned about the dairy owners, a lot of them who don't want to sell this stuff are being misrepresented. I'm pretty sure the dairies near where I live don't want to sell this stuff. So I think they're being exploited." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are rising over whether Alberta's withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games is another nail in the coffin for the multi-sport event. Rising costs have seen the Canadian province cancel its support for a bid to host the games in 2030. This comes weeks after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games. Global News Journalist Kareem Gouda told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it always comes down to dollars and cents. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop singer Lizzo has broken her silence over allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Three former back up dancers have accused her of weight shaming and sexual harassment. The Grammy winner says the claims are false and unbelievable and the dancers who are making the allegations have their noses out of joint after being told off for poor behaviour. LA Entertainment Correspondent Sean Mandell told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it’s too early to say that this is the end of her career, or that she’s been cancelled. He said that if the allegations were proven to be true, it would significantly damage her image and ability to continue her career with the body positive identity she has cultivated. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers were trudging around a little deeper in the mud today after a fall in Fonterra's expected payout to dairy farmers. Fonterra has drastically cut its forecast Farmgate Milk Price, with the midpoint falling from eight-dollars-per-kilogram of milk solids to just seven-dollars. It's blaming reduced demand for whole milk powder from China. Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Richard McIntyre told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it’s a challenging time for farmers. He says they've got high interest rates, high input costs, and now a milk price well below the breakeven price. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for more police in Auckland's CBD after another shooting. Police were called to reports of fighting between two groups on Lower Queen Street around 11.30 last night. One person fired up to four shots, leaving two people critically injured. Police are now hunting for the offenders. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck told Heather du Plessis Allan that they'd like a police station back in the central city. She says they want to send the message that there's no tolerance for violence and crime, and having police presence would give people the comfort they're looking for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.