Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A group of lawyers are taking the Government's climate policies to court. Lawyers for Climate Action have filed a judicial review, calling for a probe of the coalition cancelling the previous Government's projects - under the emissions reduction plan. They claim the plan fails to uphold the Climate Change Response Act. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explains why this is taking place -...

Triple-murder-accused Erin Patterson's cross examination continues in Australia.  The 50-year-old is accused of intentionally serving a poisonous mushroom dish to her estranged husband's family in 2023. She maintains her innocence. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Erin Patterson has been accused of multiple inconsistencies - and appeared 'discombobulated during the trial. LISTEN ABOV...

Former All Blacks midfielder Ngani Laumape believes Moana Pasifika can win Super Rugby while he's there. Laumape has signed a two year deal, returning to Super Rugby for the first time since leaving the Hurricanes in 2021. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Proposed anti-stalking laws are being strengthened - following recommendations from Parliament's Justice Select Committee.  Originally the proposed offence, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison, captured three specified acts within a one year period.  It'll now be triggered after two acts within two years, which Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says better recognises patterns of...

A British photographer has been hit by non-lethal rounds during protests in Los Angeles.   He has now undergone emergency surgery and is recovering at Long Beach Memorial Medical Centre. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US share markets have continued to pick up recently, sparking discussion among experts. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains the factors behind the change. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council is being called on to review its rating system over fears increased rates are driving businesses out of the capital. Newly released figures show Wellington’s average commercial rates bill is $47,881. That compares to $20,716 in Auckland, $18,059 in Christchurch, $24,768 in Hamilton, and $25,670 in Tauranga. Director of The Wellington Company, Ian Cassels, says there's a lot...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson has officially stepped down from the role. Are we surprised by this? How will he be remembered? The Auditor-General has pointed out some very lavish spending by some school boards on parties, overseas trav...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 June 2025, NZ Rugby's boss is calling it quits, and ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith has got the scoresheet on his performance. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says yet more action is coming on to crack down on the supermarket competition. Heather reckons schools need to take a long hard look at themselves, after the Auditor General...

Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Willis says the Michael Forbes situation is awful - but police have to have discretion.  The Prime Minister's acting deputy press secretary quit last week, over allegations he took compromising recordings of sex workers and photos of women he didn't know. Nicola Willis says these issues need to be managed well and she says the Department of Internal Affairs lookin...

Anyone who thinks that Mark Robinson resigning from New Zealand Rugby today is a shock clearly doesn't follow rugby's dramas with their brain fully turned on. This was not a shock at all. Anyone could see this coming. This was coming the minute that David Kirk took over as the chair. Now, I don't want to be seen to be saying that David Kirk forced him out. It is, in fact, quite possible...

The author of an alternative Jacinda Ardern biography says his book's different - because he's spoken to people across politics.  The Former Prime Minister's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, hit shelves last week.  David Cohen says he's writing his own book, backed by alternative news website, the Centrist. He expects it'll be out later this year. He says he's proud of the fact it brin...

Mark Robinson's underlined dealing with Covid-19 as the biggest challenge of his tenure as New Zealand Rugby chief executive. Robinson will stand down at the end of the year, to move to Australia with family. He was only three weeks into the job in 2020 when the pandemic hit - shutting down the game. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says this is the right move. "There's clearly a moveme...

Auckland home values have fallen, down nine percent on CVs released in 2021. New capital values are being released tomorrow for 630,000 properties, with inner-city suburbs taking a bigger hit. Central Auckland areas - including Mount Eden and Maungakiekie - fell about 13 percent. Auckland Council Group CFO, Ross Tucker, says a few reasons have driven the slump. "We've seen apartments fall 12 perce...

The Green Party is speaking out over Israel stopping a civilian yacht carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted a yacht carrying prominent activists - including Greta Thunberg. Its Foreign Ministry says they're safe, and the cargo will be taken to Gaza.  But Green Party co-Leader Marama Davidson says that's not good enough. "We want to see Israel stop shooting at innocent...

Labour’s Willie Jackson says Te Pāti Māori needs to compromise and focus on the main issues facing New Zealanders, like health and housing, following three MPs’ sanctioning in Parliament this week. He’s also responded to comments from Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, the partner of Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi and the daughter of the party’s president, John Tamihere. NZ Herald political editor Tho...

The Australian Government is set to make some tax changes - and it's got people worried about the future. Labor is looking to double the levy for to 30 percent for people with at least $3 million in their superannuation, with experts claiming at least 80,000 Australians will be impacted. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says there's plenty of vocal opposition to these changes. LISTEN ABOVE See o...

Ryan Fox has brandished the three wood - as Chris Wood and the All Whites have cheered him on to a Canadian Open victory. The New Zealand golfer's won the title in front of a group of All Whites players, who are in Toronto between games in an international friendly tournament. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers has launched a petition calling for KiwiSaver rules to be changed to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. The petition’s launch has been timed to coincide with Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. Federated Farmers' banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says farming is very capital intensive and young far...

I've been thinking overnight about the news yesterday that a second Christchurch school has decided to put the walls back up in their classrooms and abandon those modern learning barn style spaces that we were doing in favour of going back to the traditional single class.  The school is Shirley Boys High.  And then last year, Rangiora High School did the same thing.  Something that...

Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping spoke over the phone last night.  They agreed to launch a new round of trade talks in their first known conversation since the US president returned to the White House in January. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis joins the show to discuss.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 6 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.

Prominent New Zealand leaders are coming together to express their concern about the country’s foreign policy direction. In an open leader, Kiwi figures including Helen Clark, Sir David Carter and Dr Don Brash are warning the Government against taking an adversarial stance against China as part of an alignment with the US. It comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s upcoming trip to China. Former Prime...

Sports Journalist Andrew Gourdie and Oceania Football Confederation Spokesperson Matt Brown join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle. Rob Walter has been announced as the new Black Caps coach - how big a loss is Gary Stead for the team? Super Rugby finals quarter-finals are on this weekend. What can we expect? And Red Bull have confirmed they will offer Yuki Tsunoda a luxury Liam Lawson...

A new option has opened up to Kiwi’s in their end-of-life choices. New Zealand’s first water crematorium has opened in Christchurch and operates as a more environmentally friendly option than flame cremation. Christchurch Water Crematorium Director Deborah Richards talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the business. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.