Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Now, unfortunately, because it is an election year, we are apparently going to have the debate that we have every single election year: should we set up a special unit that costs each party's election promises independently? And the answer to that question should be the same as it always is - no, we should not do this. There is no point in doing it. This unit will not be independent. It will be st...

The Green Party says voters shouldn't have to guess who's numbers are right, as it pushes for a Parliamentary Budget Office. It says parties are already accusing each other of fiscal holes this year - highlighting the need for an independent office to cost election policies. The party's written to Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Labour's Barbara Edmonds, urging support. Green Party co-leader Ch...

World Athletics has launched a project to study pregnancy, childbirth and the return to competition among elite female athletes to help shape future policy. The Childbirth And Return in Elite Sport (CARES) project aims to combine research and policy to better understand pregnancy and motherhood in elite athletics and to shape support systems to reduce inequality.  Olympic rower Lucy Spoors sh...

Pauline Hanson has made her first ever appearance at the National Press Club of Australia. The One Nation leader claimed Australia must be 'monocultural' and calls multiculturalism a 'failed policy'.  Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says Hanson addressed a lot of policies - but in vague terms. "In the midst of all of it, there was this protest that interrupted the speech, wh...

The Public Service Commissioner says he doesn't think officials involved in an MBIE border biometrics project still work there. Reviews are being launched into allegations immigration staff tried to avoid Cabinet scrutiny of a cost blowout.  At least $32 million was wasted over seven years.   Sir Brian Roche says investigations include looking at current staffing. "This is a serious prob...

New Zealand First's leader claims people implicated in an MBIE scandal should be jailed. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says she was misled about ballooning costs for a border biometrics tech upgrade, which was axed with about $33 million dollars lost. The Public Service Commission and MBIE are undertaking reviews. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further, and...

US law enforcement said it had thwarted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a crowded MMA event attended by President Donald Trump and other top officials. According to US media, five people have been arrested and investigators have identified 23 people in a 'potential network of plotters' who communicated in a Signal group chat. The group allegedly planned to detonate explosive-laden...

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua is confident in a successful return to the clipboard after naming a 12-strong squad for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It's the first group the World Cup-winning coach has picked since last year's suspension saga, which saw her miss three series. Sportstalk host Nick Bewley unpacked the announcement further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

The ACC Minister says the accidental injury cover scheme's been allowed to drift over the years, but should be retained.  The latest injuries report shows ACC spent $4.4 billion on treatment last year, and $3.1 billion on weekly compensation.  Scott Simpson says running the scheme costs about $8.3 billion dollars annually. "It's been working well for New Zealanders for nigh-on 50 years,...

A man has been arrested nearly nine years after a woman was allegedly pushed into the path of an oncoming bus on Putney Bridge. CCTV footage and images of the suspect were released by police after the incident, sparking interest in catching the unidentified runner. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a spike in the number of wealthy Australians expressing interest in property across the ditch. New reports show there's a surge in interest in homes in and around Queenstown since the Australian budget was released in May. Queenstown real estate agent Hamish Walker says Trade Me and similar property websites are seeing more demand from Aussies than ever - with older buyers especially...

Another Fieldays has come and gone for Kiwi farmers and rural experts. Over 132,000 visitors came through the gates over four days of the 58th Fieldays, with Wednesday gate numbers recorded as the largest opening day attendance in the event’s recent history. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The All Whites had their first World Cup match today and drew 2-all with Iran. Do we see them advancing to the knockout stages? What did we think of today's match? Erica Stanford has revealed her officials wasted more than...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 16 June, 2026, Erica Stanford accuses immigration officials of misleading her over a botched $32 million technology project. Labour's health spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall on how many pregnant women will benefit from free maternity scans. Former All Whites coach Ricki Herbert assesses the 2-all draw against Iran at the FIFA World Cup...

Ooh, let today be a warning to public servants considering trying to get one over Erica Stanford: they may want to rethink that approach and play with a straight bat instead, because Erica Stanford is not one to be trifled with. Today, she has thrown her officials - her migration officials in particular - under the bus by revealing that they wasted more than $30 million on a biometrics data system...

Counteroffers have become a widespread retention tactic in today’s hiring market, but questions have been raised about its effectiveness. The 2026 Robert Half Salary Guide reveals 95 percent of New Zealand employers extended a counteroffer to employees with external job offers in the past year. Megan Alexander from Robert Half says it's a short-term fix, as a significant percentage of employees st...

The All Whites' World Cup campaign has well and truly begun, and the team's made a solid start in their big opener. The Kiwi side drew 2-all with Iran and Elijah Just became the first All Whites player to score twice in a World Cup match. Former coach Ricki Herbert says it was a 'super' start for the All Whites. "The players will be disappointed, there were a couple of moments that they probably j...

Labour says families should not have to worry about money when making sure they and their babies are okay. The party is campaigning on free maternity scans - paid for by a capital gains tax, alongside three funded GP visits a year. They're both part of its Medicard policy. Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says initial briefings show this policy will benefit at least 50,000 expectant mothers. "Th...

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says she's lost some trust, claiming she was 'misled' by officials.  A report's found staff tried to obscure cost increases from Stanford and the Cabinet in a project to upgrade border biometric systems The initial $19 million dollars ballooned, and was ultimately scrapped, with at least $32 million being written off.  Stanford says the money will be w...

The Bay of Plenty could be seeing the light at the end of the economic tunnel.  ASB's Regional Economic Scoreboard shows the Bay's reclaimed first place after a strong kiwifruit season. Canterbury's runner up, Otago third and the West Coast last. Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive, Matt Cowley, says innovation follows money and there's a lot of innovation in the area.   "Even the...

Reviews - and a potential employment process - over how officials advised on a now-scrapped $32-million-dollar project are set to take place. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says a report shows officials deliberately withheld information on a border biometrics upgrade, launched in 2018 without ministerial sign-off. Stanford says she's extremely disappointed 'creative accounting' was used. News...

Australia’s temporary fuel tax cut began on April 1 and is set to run until June 30 - unless the Government decides to extend it. Oil prices fell after the US and Iran announced an agreement on a framework deal to end the war - with the US claiming it could lead to the Strait of Hormuz opening. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Strait opening won't lead to fuel prices going down right...

One point and a piece of history for the All Whites in their opening match at the Football World Cup. They've drawn 2-all with Iran in Los Angeles - with Elijah Just becoming the first All Whites player to bag two goals in a World Cup match. Sportstalk host Nick Bewley recapped the action further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A child psychologist says it's not a surprise to find nearly a quarter of young people experience high levels of psychological distress. A new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report also reveals a high level of unmet need for Māori and young people.  Child psychologist Sara Chatwin says life pressures and online content are fuelling issues.  She says groups really struggling inclu...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund  CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Matthew Hooton has been appointed the new editor of The Post - what do we think of this? Nicola Willis has raised concerns over Labour's plans for public transport - but was her timing wrong? Could she have handled this better...