Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's expectations weight-loss drug Wegovy will eventually be funded publicly, according to experts. It's become available from pharmacies under prescription - from today. It's not funded by Pharmac, and costs about $500 dollars per month.  Auckland University population nutrition professor, Boyd Swinburn, says that is unaffordable for the public purse. "When the first generation of these d...

There's another tool in the police toolbox for cracking down on crime. A retail crime prevention advocate says he's happy with proposed law sentencing changes. The Government's confirmed new proposals to increase penalties for shoplifting - including infringement fees, a new 'aggravated theft' offence, and prison sentences. Ministerial Retail Crime Advisory Group lead Sunny Kaushal says we need to...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced that former acting Reserve Bank Governor Grant Spencer has been appointed to the central bank’s board. Spencer retired from the Reserve Bank in 2018, after he was deputy Governor and head of financial stability from 2007 to 2017. He was acting Governor over the six months to March 2018. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacks what Nicola Will...

Lulu Sun’s return to Wimbledon after a remarkable run 12 months ago has been brief, knocked out this morning in the opening round. The Kiwi world number 47 fell in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, Sun’s fourth straight first-round exit at a grand slam. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 26-year-old Melbourne childcare worker is facing 70 charges relating to eight pre-schoolers aged between five months and two years.  Joshua Brown's worked across 20 centres since 2017 - and is accused of sexual assault and producing child abuse material. The parents of 1200 children who'd been in his care have been advised to screen them for infectious diseases. Australian correspondent Mur...

From today, Wegovy is available on our shelves so you can get skinny like Oprah, if you want. But it'll cost you - $500 per month. Which is unaffordable for most people, prompting a debate over whether the Government should fund it to reduce obesity and safe money on obesity-related illnesses and injuries. Now on principle, this is the kind of thing I'm a fan of - a bit of money upfront to save lo...

A new investigation into the Christchurch Mosque shooting delves into the shooter's motivations - and questions whether he should be identified as a 'lone wolf'. In the six-part podcast, Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor, investigative journalist Joey Watson traces the killer's descent into extremism and wonders if he truly acted alone after being radicalised by online communities. Watson explained that...

UK authorities have confirmed they plan to assess comments made by some controversial artists at the Glastonbury Festival. English punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish group Kneecap performed controversial sets at the famed festival - criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Israeli Defence Force. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the organisers of the festival were 'appalled' by these - and it's li...

Canada recently scrapped its digital services tax targeting US technology firms - just hours before it was due to take effect.  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump are set to re-open trade talks in order to agree on a deal by July 21, according to Canada's finance ministry. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

Strategic Pay's latest Directors' Fees Survey has uncovered an unexpected trend in the nation's private sector boardrooms. The data shows women are out-earning their male counterparts - despite still being somewhat under-represented. Strategic Pay managing director Cathy Hendry says this is 'surprising' - but it's still good to see. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 30 June 2025, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith explains why he's making coward punches a new offence with tougher penalties. Rental homes have to follow healthy homes rules by tomorrow - but many many don't comply. Heather asks Andrew Eagles from the Green Building Council whether the rules are simply too tough. Finance Minister Ni...

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! The Healthy Homes standards are set to kick in tomorrow - do we see the Government enforcing these?  The Government has recently released a string of new law and order announcements, the latest including tougher penalties for p...

Anyone out there, hands up, who doesn't agree with the Justice Minister's plan to introduce harsher punishments for people who assault first responders? I feel like this is a complete no-brainer. I mean, there are some out there who would argue that no assault is acceptable at all and that if you create two tiers of punishment where you've got the police officers on one level and then the normal h...

The Finance Minister says changes to the FamilyBoost scheme are on their way - after Cabinet made decisions today. The Government previously said it would announce changes to the childcare tax policy in June. It's been admitted the number of families initially thought eligible was wrong. Nicola Willis says there are two changes and they apply to fees incurred from tomorrow - with claims able to be...

The Government's slamming the requirement for builders of a new Ikea in Auckland - to consult with seven mana whenua groups. Consent for the Sylvia Park store requires iwi consultation around erosion, stormwater treatment, and planting.  ACT's Simon Court flagged the issue, and the Prime Minister's called it insane. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says it's ridiculous - and why we can't have...

Transpower says recent electricity generation simulations should not trigger panic, over declining gas supply. Two of three tests show improvements, looking a decade ahead into how our systems will cope with demand. But the third - the winter energy margin - finds worsening conditions, year-on-year. Transpower's James Kilty says it's not a big deal. "The tests include a buffer, so the fact that we...

New research has been conducted into our texting habits - and it's raised a few eyebrows. A survey by BNZ indicates New Zealanders were responding to notifications in a variety of awkward locations, with one third of respondents replying in the bathroom, 41 percent in the middle of face-to-face conversations and 28 percent while in meetings.  Etiquette expert Anna Musson says many of us are t...

The Justice Minister's confirmed the Government aims to send a clear message to offenders as part of the latest legislation.  The Government recently announced 'coward punches' will be treated as a new offence, giving offenders longer sentences. The reform makes good on a National and NZ First coalition promise. Paul Goldsmith says the Government's hoping to disincentivise these 'unacceptable...

The Prime Minister is talking up our economic prospects - in challenging global times. He's just returned from meeting leaders in China and Europe, as mid-east tensions reached boiling point. Chris Luxon says we are throwing everything at boosting trade links so we can continue to grow. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan discussed further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

An Australian jury has begun its first day of deliberations in the trial of Erin Patterson - accused of deliberately manufacturing a murderous mushroom lunch. She's facing three murder charges and one of attempted murder over the toxic meal she served her estranged husband's relatives. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's just over an hour left of deliberating time today. "4:15 Me...

Satisfaction for Liam Lawson after prevailing in a race long battle with a two-time world champion at Formula One's Austrian Grand Prix. The Kiwi driver has secured a career best sixth - one place ahead of Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns not all landlords will comply with the Healthy Homes standards set to kick in tomorrow. New rental compliance standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, and moisture in rental properties will come into effect from July 1. NZ Green Building Council CEO Andrew Eagles says it's likely a significant percentage of homes won't meet the standard by the deadline. "There's been an awf...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 27 June. 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.

The high street tailor "Crane Brothers" has been a fixture on the street for years - and it will remain so for even longer. Murray Crane - the man behind the business - has signed to keep the business in it's current location for another 25 years.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "[on High Street] we're seeing tenancies being refilled and leases being signed." Crane said that despite the CB...

CEO Sir Russell Coutts has today announced the City of Sails as the second stop of next season's world tour. Auckland Unlimited revealed their million-dollar investment to the January regatta, which returned $5million. Head of Major Events Michelle Hooper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they're looking to do it all again and continue to have Auckland host in the future. She says the intention b...