Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Ukrainian soldiers have had their use of Starlink terminals restricted by Elon Musk's firm SpaceX. Officials in Kyiv say new limitations on the military-grade version have disrupted drone missions, and Musk has since claimed the US is behind this move. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in London, and he feels 'betrayed' by this, and he's said as much in interviews.  LIST...

The US isn't the only nation with significant Government debt, with economic concerns in the UK set to impact the wider world. Over in the UK, long-term borrowing rates are hitting fresh 30-year highs, and it's making a mark on the share market. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained the impact further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef + Lamb NZ chair Kate Acland is set to make a case for New Zealand exporters at a hearing of the US International Trade Commission in the coming days. This weekend's hearing will determine whether lamb imports are causing harm to US producers, with Beef + Lamb NZ arguing that imports help meet demand from US consumers. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the Commission has until November 13 to det...

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer and National Party activist and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! After the Greens were spotted doing a photo op with the Mongrel Mob, they've doubled down and claimed they'd consider dumping the patch ban, and that they're open to mob-delivered drug-rehab work. Is this a b...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 15 October, 2026, we talk to a Starship Hospital doctor about children's cancer treatment being delayed because of understaffing. Winston Peters is showing an interest in combat sports. Why Paul Goldsmith should keep going to music awards, despite always facing flak. And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Liam Hehir on whether th...

Three months after Burger Burger went into liquidation, the Kiwi brand has been given a new chance at life. Four big Kiwi brands, Neat Meat, Mammoth Brands, Eastrock and Sawmill Brewery, have joined forces to revive the burger chain.  Mammoth Brands co-founder Chris Henderson says the newly reopened Torbay store is seeing huge crowds.  "Just seeing the love from the community, the connec...

Now, there's a headline today that deserves a bit of discussion. It's this: "Silver Scrolls: Why does Paul Goldsmith keep turning up to these things?" And the reason for that headline is that Paul Goldsmith went to the Silver Scroll Awards and, yet again, the musicians gave him a hard time. Madeleine Sami, who was the MC, got up and started it off with, "You're brave." Then Rob Ruha got up to coll...

National's Energy Spokesperson says a six-month timeframe to get plug-in solar in shops is totally doable.  The party is promising it'll get it done, if re-elected.  New regulations are needed to allow sales in New Zealand.  Simeon Brown says getting them here is as simple as ordering them from Europe.  "Put it in a container, get it in the ship, bring it out here and get it on...

New Zealand First is promising more regulation in combat sports - but an MMA coach advises caution. The party wants to set up a Combat Sports Commission, to oversee licensing, and require medical professionals at events.  It also wants penalties to crack down on gangs hosting unsanctioned events.  City Kickboxing trainer Mike Angove says for some, these sports are rehabilitative.  "...

A lifelong gang member says Green Party decisions around gangs this week have a bad look. Greens and  Te Pāti Māori MPs this week visited the Mongrel Mob HQ, posing for photos. The Greens say they'd consider dumping the patch ban, and are open to mob-delivered drug-rehab work. Denis O'Reilly says the patch bans reduced aggressive behaviour.  He says gangs mightn't be the best to lead ant...

Starship Hospital has confirmed nurse shortages forced some cancer treatment delays - but says things are business as usual.  It's delayed about 20 chemotherapy cycles a few days, out of up to 600. Health New Zealand Auckland Group Operations Director Dr Mike Shepherd says as usual, they've sought support across the organisation.  "At times of very high demand, very high staff sickness a...

Candidates from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens were recently spotted meeting with the Mongrel Mob on social media, and it's prompted some backlash. Chris Hipkins and Labour have since ruled out any MP from those parties holding the Justice or Police portfolios. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has labelled this as 'absurd' and that Luxon should have drawn more attention to this...

An investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission revealed that over $250 million in Covid-19 support was paid to 9,000 ineligible Victorian businesses.  The probe found that multiple senior public servants withheld information from the minister overseeing the scheme back in 2021-2022. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says these business didn't have the GST compli...

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has stuck with the tried and true for the return test against the Wallabies in Sydney. Only three changes have been made to the run-on side. After needing three selection meetings to pick the line-up that blitzed Australia at Eden Park, coach Dave Rennie says it was a much easier team to name second time around. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked the selections...

The All Blacks are gearing up for their second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney this weekend, and coach Dave Rennie's confirmed some changes. Rennie and his fellow selectors have named eight changes to the matchday 23, but just three of those are in the main first XV. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan says the Kiwi side will be looking to have another good performance, considering they're recovering fr...

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has summoned the Russian ambassador after two merchant ships were struck by drones off the region's Black Sea coast. One ship sank, six crew members were rescued - but 10 more are missing, according to recent reports. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this attack comes a week after two other ships were attacked by drones in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. LI...

Tonight's leaders' debate between Luxon and Hipkins isn't the only big political face-off happening tonight.  The ‘ASB Great Finance Debate’ will take place in Queenstown this evening, and the finance spokespeople from all the major parties will outline their campaign announcements.    NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny was there - and she unpacked the mood of the...

The 2026 election season is well underway - but what does this campaign mean for the economy? The retirement sector has taken a hit on the NZX, with many leading companies seeing market drops. Milford Asset Management expert Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and sustainability consultant John Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! National is pledging to let councils require car parks for new suburban builds. It was announced as part of its plan for Auckland - but transport spokesperson Chris Bishop says this will apply to all councils. Do we thin...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14 October. 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.

Labour's now saying it won't scrap a requirement that kids be taught an hour of reading, writing, and maths a day. The party's copping criticism from National after Labour leader Chris Hipkins suggested it should be up to schools to make that call. A Curia poll shows 74 percent of people support the mandated learning. Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says she's been told teachers curr...

National's transport spokesperson says cars are clogging small suburban streets. The party is promising if elected to let councils require car parks for new suburban builds.  It was announced as part of its plan for Auckland - but Chris Bishop says this will apply to all councils.  He says in some parts of cities, parking isn't needed.  "You can't do it near train stations, you can'...

I think we might have the first significant own goal of the election campaign. It's the Mongrel Mob photos. If you haven't caught up on this yet, you should take a look. It's blown up online. Photos have emerged showing a group of Māori Party and Green Party MPs and candidates meeting the Mongrel Mob at one of their gang pads. In the photos, you've got Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of the Māori Party...

Kiwibank's new mascot sheep has been the subject of scandal and questionable content, and the bank has weighed in. Sexualised tweets about Buck the Sheep have gone viral, and Last Week Tonight's John Oliver even discussed the reactions on his show.  UOA marketing professor Mike Lee says Kiwibank's response video indicates the bank might have misunderstood the situation.  "We're not talki...

A surgeon says Pope Leo's future looks positive - once he recovers from lung cancer surgery to remove a small growth and part of his right lung.  Rush University thoracic surgeon Nicole Geissen says the 71-year-old is unlikely to face ongoing impacts. "Most patients, once they recover from surgery, pain-wise, and they're back to full functionality, don't notice that that part of their lung is...