Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

One expert has warned China has lost trust in New Zealand as a trading partner - and it could impact the current FTA. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is leading a trade delegation to China, with a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping set to take place this coming Friday. Mahon China Investment Management CEO David Mahon says Luxon's sending over a modest delegation over a short timeframe - and it'...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 17 June 2025, the Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey gets a grilling following calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health. It comes after two shocking cases of people being killed by mental health patients.   US president Donald Trump has left the G7 summit early to deal with the ongoing Israel-Iran...

The Government has unveiled new changes for Employment Relations Act aimed at improving labour market flexibility - but it's raised some concerns. One of the proposed changes includes introducing an income threshold of $180,000 above which a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal cannot be pursued. Director and Head of Practice at Jennifer Mills & Associates, Jennifer Mills, says this th...

I'll tell you what I'm gonna be watching with some interest in the next few weeks -  that employment bill that ACT has just introduced to Parliament that would make it a lot easier for employers to fire staff who earn more than $180,000 because those high earning staff would not be able to take personal grievance cases for justified dismissal. Now, I say high earning with air quotes, because...

New research indicates most of Gen Z aren't aiming for leadership roles in their future careers. An annual Deloitte survey says only six percent of Gen Z respondents stated they had leadership aspirations.  Nelson's deputy mayor Rohan O'Neill Stevens is within the Gen Z age range - and he says this survey shows this group has different goals to their predecessors. "When you look at the top sc...

An architect is pushing back on plans to demolish Wellington's Gordon Wilson Flats - on the Terrace. They were built in the late 1950s and have heritage status for being relatively unique social housing. Housing Minister Chris Bishop has intervened to let owners, Victoria University, demolish the building, which it'll replace with student accommodation. Architect Ken Davis says it's part of our cu...

Ardie Savea's urging Moana Pasifika fans to stick with the team - after confirming he won't play Super Rugby next year. The All Blacks vice-captain is taking up a second Japanese sabbatical in 2026 - returning to the Kobe Steelers team he played for last year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister Deborah Russell raised a few eyebrows after dropping the f-bomb in the House. ACT's David Seymour has been quick to criticise this - and it's sparked further discussion. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls wonders if this is an attempt to grab attention - in line with similar scandals. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese missed out on an upcoming meeting with Donald Trump after the US President left the G7 summit early. Trump completed an earlier meeting with UK Prime Minister Starmer, where the pair were able to discuss the future of the AUKUS alliance. Australian correspondent Murray Olds said Albanese will have other chances to meet with Trump. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

A Royal Commission of Inquiry into mental health care is looking unlikely - despite pressure over repeat killings by two patients. Hillmorton Hospital resident, Elliot Cameron, murdered his 83-year-old Christchurch gardening client in October, with new revelations he killed his brother 50 years ago. This year, another man was found not guilty on insanity grounds - for killing a second time. ...

There's concerns the Israel and Iran conflict is about to escalate, as Donald Trump leaves the G7 summit early. The US President's cut his time in Canada short - not long after telling people to evacuate Iran's capital, Tehran. Channel 9 chief political editor, Charles Croucher, says the whole world is watching. "It seems, from what's coming out of America that the US aren't directly involved in w...

A housing advocate says New Zealand's homelessness is the worst she's seen in 20 years.  The Government's celebrating one-year of its Priority One policy - which moves families out of motel rooms into secure housing.  Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka doesn't believe any increase in rough sleeping is due to Government policy.  Lifewise chief executive Haehaetu Barrett says she...

Large protests are held in Spain, Italy and Portugal calling for a curb on mass tourism - with Barcelona organisers telling demonstrators to bring water pistols to shoot at holidaymakers.  Campaigners say excessive levels of tourism are forcing locals out of affordable housing, raising the cost of living and making the city centres 'unusable'. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacked the protests...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour minister Stuart Nash joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   Heather's disappointed that the Government hasn't followed on after all their talk on reform. They've only gotten rid of 2000 public servants so far - what do we make of all this? Chris Luxon copped some backlash...

Israel and Iran have been engaged in air strikes for several days now - and experts have wondered what the conflict could mean for the wider world. It's day three of the latest conflict, as the two countries exchange deadly attacks following Israel's initial assault on Friday.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacked the market reactions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Amid an ongoing shortage in professional therapists, Kiwis are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for help with their mental health issues. Minister Matt Doocey has claimed up to 20 percent of New Zealand's unmet mental health needs could be solved using chatbot services like ChatGPT. Clinical psychologist Jaqui Maguire says the technology is helpful in some cases - but it's unlikely...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 16 June 2025, Foreign Minister Winston Peters tells Kiwis in Iran and Israel to get away from the "arc of danger" but the ways out are limited. Are your sick leave entitlements on the chopping block? The Government walks back the PM's claim that the entitlement might soon drop from 10 to 5 days. Roles reversed? Heather gets a tell...

This morning, the Prime Minister was asked about the 2000 public servants that had lost their jobs. 2000 are out but 64,000 remain. Chris Luxon saw nothing wrong with that.   That right there is part of the reason why this Government is polling so poorly, because it's all talk, isn't it, bugger all action. Now I'm sorry. I realize this is a lot to start the week with - we're starting str...

The Finance Minister made it clear she was unimpressed with the way the RBNZ handled public communication around Adrian Orr’s departure. Reserve Bank board chair Neil Quigley recently revealed he 'regretted' the time it took to release information around Orr's surprise resignation. Nicola Willis says the central bank could have provided some clarifying statements more promptly than they did. "As s...

Doctors specialising in menopause have expressed relief following Pharmac's recent u-turn.  Pharmac has announced it'll fund both the Estradot and Mylan brands of hormone replacement patches from December, after public consultation. It follows backlash in response to its decision to switch suppliers  Menodoctor Clinical Director Dr Linda Dear says this is the news they needed to hear.&nb...

There's questions over how well vaping regulations will be monitored. New rules come in tomorrow, including stricter advertising restrictions for vape retailers and a ban on disposable vapes Aspire Aotearoa Tobacco Control's Doctor Jude Ball says non-compliance is a problem overseas. But she says the number of enforcement agents has increased, so she's expecting the rules to be enforced. "These me...

Workers may soon be eligible for different amounts of sick leave based on the hours they work.   This morning, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon revealed the Workplace Relations Minister is looking at altering the current 10 day entitlement. Brooke van Velden says Cabinet has already agreed to develop a pro-rated sick leave system.  "Is it fair that someone who works maybe one day a week,...

Winston Peters says the Government's providing the best possible advice to New Zealanders in Iran and Israel.  This afternoon, the Foreign Affairs Minister called the escalation of tension in the Middle East the most 'uncertain' geopolitical circumstances he's ever seen.  At last count, there are 50 Kiwis registered as being in Iran, and 80 in Israel.  Peters says leaving could be c...

Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed today that changes were coming to existing sick leave terms. In 2021, Labour and the Greens doubled statutory sick leave from 5 to 10 days as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Christopher Luxon said Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden is working on new changes - but it prompted concerns from some. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughl...

Anthony Albanese is set to meet US President Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time at the G7 summit in Canada. It's expected Albanese will use these discussions to make the case for an exemption to trade tariffs and talk up the AUKUS agreement. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Trump will use these discussions to encourage Australia to boost up their defence spending. LISTEN ABO...