Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Andrew Dickens for Thursday, 11 June, 2026, Transport Minister Chris Bishop sets the record straight on plans for Budget funding earmarked for a rainy day and takes a swipe at Labour's public transport policy. We speak to the founder of a business offering ADHD assessments over Zoom, cutting wait times from months to weeks. The Prime Min...

Tonight on The Huddle, artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! ADHD Simple is utilising technology and AI to get ADHD assessments done more quickly and at less cost than from traditional clinics. Do we trust this development? National has criticised Labour's numbers fol...

Failing to hit our 2030 emissions target could be a bad look for New Zealand, according to one expert.  Treasury's predicted we could have to pay about five-billion dollars in overseas carbon credits to meet our Paris Agreement target. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says they'll try, but won't be spending that. Waikato University climate law professor Barry Barton says failing our targets could h...

A new service aims to get ADHD assessments done more quickly and at less cost than from traditional clinics.  ADHD Simple offers appointments in as little as three weeks, by holding online consultations. New rules for prescribing stimulant medication and diagnosing the condition came into effect this year.  Company founder and chief executive, Cameron Houston, says they combine tech and...

McDonalds is increasing the size of medium and large coffees for Super Gold cardholders. It had previously sold any size McCafe coffee, tea or hot chocolate for $3 but it has now increased the price for medium and large to $4 and $5, respectively. Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang says it's likely there will be some upset people as a result of these changes. "If the costs have increa...

The Transport Minister is denying weighing up using an emergency fund on public transport. Chris Bishop says a contingency fund in this Budget - is for targeted, timely fuel-crisis support - if needed. Bishop says if the Government wants to do something around public transport, it would look to infrastructure. "I'm not proposing, in fact, I never said we were proposing, it's been wildly misreporte...

The United States has enough force to open the Strait of Hormuz, but the price is too high.  The US has been attacking multiple targets, claiming it's self-defence.  Iran has responded by saying it'll shoot any vessel attempting to traverse the Strait.  Former CIA intelligence officer, Glenn Carle, says Donald Trump could order the military to open the passage, but it would involve...

The High Court is quashing earlier court directions to return gang patches to some members. Open Justice reports two men caught wearing patches in separate incidents were prosecuted, and in each the presiding judge ruled they could get back their insignia. The Solicitor-General appealed those directions.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper outlined the terms of the ruling....

A new report into the NSW police force has revealed bullying, incivility, and discrimination are at 'unacceptable levels' within the force. More than 5,000 current and former staff engaged with the review, which was undertaken by former Victorian equal opportunity and human rights commissioner Kristen Hilton. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the inquiry ran for 18 months, and uncovered hi...

The Customs Minister insists the Government's had success seizing illicit tobacco, as a report outlines the reality of the black market. FTI Consulting's study - commissioned by tobacco companies - found more than a third consumed last year was illegal. It estimates the Government lost $817-million in excise and GST revenue last year. Casey Costello says despite more seizures than ever, smuggled a...

Is anyone else feeling for Chris Hipkins right now? He's having a terrible week, and it just looks bad. A large part of the blame has to rest with the people below him just not doing their job. First, the Superintendent Naidoo schemozzle. Notification of his intent to run for political office on a Thursday, just before it's announced the next Monday, was an organisational failure. The superintende...

A man believed to be Sudanese is set to appear in court charged with attempted murder after a 'brutal' knife attack in Belfast. Video circulating online shows a number of people, including one wielding a hurling stick, confronting the apparent attacker until the police arrived. The victim is in a serious condition in hospital. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained the case further. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The High Court has ordered ASB Bank to pay $6.731 million for breaching anti-money laundering laws. The penalty is the largest ever imposed by a New Zealand court under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained the case further - and whether it sets a precedent. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

Experts are warning investors to brace for a 'choppy' market in the tech sector. Some of the US's leading chip companies have been getting some extra attention on them, as the market looks set to change.  Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Andrew Dickens for Wednesday, 10 June, 2026, Labour Transport spokesman Tangi Utikere insists the party's got its numbers right with a plan to cap how much public transport users pay each week. We talk to Remuneration Authority chair Geoff Summers on more than $300,000 being spent for former prime ministers to use Crown cars they barely...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we think Labour's proposed public transport fare cap will get votes? How much of the country will this policy really help? And why wasn't Labour at Fieldays?  Are we surprised Stewart Island is sti...

So here we go - some policy, ladies and gentlemen. Labour’s promising cheaper public transport. They want to cap weekly fares at $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $10 everywhere else. Under the plan, once you hit the cap, the rest of the trips you take that week could be free. Labour says it would save regular users about $25 a week. They reckon it would save you about $1200 a year....

Tough economic conditions over the past six years have taken a toll on the survival rate of small and medium-sized businesses, but franchises appear to have fared better. International data supplied by the Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) indicates about 75 to 85 percent of franchises were still operating after five years, compared with about half of independent small businesses. Franch...

Stewart Islanders are bracing for more possible power price hikes just two months after bills jumped almost five percent. Prices on Rakiura are already double what city dwellers pay. The island's fully reliant on diesel generators - with a solar farm under construction.  Community Board Chair Aaron Conner says in the meantime, they're just soldiering on. "It's the price we have for living in...

New data shows former politicians are taking the taxpayers for a ride. A new article in the Spinoff has revealed the Government has been spending around $300,000 per year to provide Crown limousines to former Prime Ministers and their spouses - even though the service goes mostly unused. Remuneration Authority chair Geoff Summers says it's unclear if these costs could be cut as a result. "All it s...

Insurer IAG says political parties should join in making New Zealand more resilient to climate change. Its new report highlights our recovery bill is north of $4.2 billion dollars every year. It says New Zealand has major gaps in climate adaptation - and no clear strategy, a lack of consistent and effective rules, poor funding tools and no incentives. Victoria University Emeritus Professor Jonatha...

Labour's hinting it'll reprioritise Roads of National Significance projects in the Land Transport Fund, if elected this year. It's promising to cap public transport fares at $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. It says it'll pay for it from the fund, at $65 million a year. National claims the fund's already oversubscribed.  Labour's Tangi Utikere says...

Labour's started unveiling some new policies ahead of the election, and they made a new announcement regarding public transport. It's promising to campaign on a weekly fare cap - $20 for Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch - and $10 elsewhere. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper questions whether this is an affordable move. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The US says its new attacks on Iran are a proportional response. An Apache helicopter was downed off Oman's coast near the Strait of Hormuz, with its two crew members rescued by an unmanned sea drone.  The US claims the chopper was hit by an Iranian drone, with conflicting reports on whether it was deliberate. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says peace talks are still taking place, and Presid...

The future of Ben Stokes as England cricket captain is unclear this morning, as the investigation into a nightclub incident continues. Radio station Talksport claims Stokes will likely step down as skipper and retire from cricket, following a late night fracas. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.