Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 1 April 2025, Auckland is officially out of the running to host the next America's Cup. Hospitality's Steve Armitage is disappointed the Government has ruled out contributing financially. English teachers react to the new recommended reading list for secondary school students - and should Shakespeare be mandatory reading? Storie...

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Minister Stuart Nash and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  A lively debate is taking place in Christchurch, with local boards at odds over installing speed bumps. There will be a bump on one side of the road but not the other. Is this everything that is wrong with local counc...

Brooke van Velden says she's fixing unclear laws - on landowner liability for accidents on their land.   The Workplace Relations Minister's announced changes to health and safety laws to make it clear the responsibility lies organisers of activities.  The landowners of Whakaari/White Island were prosecuted after the 2019 eruption. EMA workplace safety manager Paul Jarvie says many compan...

A proposed pedestrian crossing's become a bit of a joke - after differing views were shared from two Christchurch community boards. The southbound lane of Deans Avenue, near Al Noor Mosque, has been approved for speed bumps - but not the lane heading north. It's the boundary between the Riccarton and Central City wards. Central City Councillor Jake McLellan's side will have a bump. He says it will...

Questions have been raised over a three-week mission to locate and re-home three native skinks, at a cost of $85,000. It involved clearing vegetation along State Highway Three near New Plymouth - and releasing one copper skink and two gold striped geckos at Everett Park Scenic Reserve. Auckland University conservation biologist James Russell says the money spent was a fraction of the total costs o...

The boss of Hospitality NZ says the Government's reasons for not backing an Auckland America's Cup bid don't stack up. Auckland Unlimited has confirmed the denial of funding has put it out of the running for 2027. The Prime Minister and Finance Minister say there are better uses for the money. Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Steve Armitage says the money wouldn't go into a black hole.  "Actual...

New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson is relieved a quick resolution has been found to the Ineos stand-off. The petrochemical giant and NZR have reached a settlement after the latter launched legal action following Ineos terminating the deal three years early. Robinson says he's satisfied with this decision. "We're pleased there's been a settlement reached, we've been pretty open from when we start...

Te Pati Māori won't attend a Privileges Committee hearing tomorrow - despite being summoned over a haka performed by MPs during reading of the Treaty Principles Bill last year. Te Pati Māori says its request for a joint Party hearing was turned down, and its legal counsel isn't available. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper wonders why the party isn't playing by the rules. LISTE...

Australia's Reserve Bank has kept its Official Cash Rate unchanged - as it waits for the impact of tariffs expected from Donald Trump tomorrow. New Zealand's Central Bank is still expected to drop our Official Cash Rate 25-basis points next week. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the uncertainty around the economy has created complications for the Central Bank. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

Auckland's chances of hosting the 38th America's Cup defence in 2027 have sailed over the horizon without Government investment. Team New Zealand has responded with a statement, saying the syndicate completely understands as 'times are tough'. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's scepticism in the education sector over a newly proposed English curriculum. The Ministry of Education has released suggestions for year 7-to-13 studies - for consultation until June. Suggested texts include making Shakespeare compulsory for Years 12 and 13 - and all years reading books by New Zealand authors. English Teachers' Association President Pip Tinning says the draft feels like a...

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have recently had 'productive negotiations' about the economic relationship between the UK and US.  The leaders have agreed to keep discussions going ahead of the US' much-anticipated tariffs update this week.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the UK will want to avoid any negative economic impacts that come with these tariffs. LISTEN A...

Auckland Airport has cut its airline charges after the Commerce Commission found the airport’s forecast revenue was “excessive” and its targeted returns were unreasonably high. In June, the commission said Auckland Airport’s revenue and targeted returns exceeded what was reasonable, but the airport’s planned investment seemed appropriate. In its final report today, the regulator again said the air...

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a barrage of tariffs on April 2nd - and industry experts have voiced concerns. The day has been dubbed 'Liberation Day' by the President and his aides, and business experts and economists are worried it will cost jobs and create economic turmoil.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains what could come out of this - and what risks it holds for N...

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Winston Peters says the Government has signed off on the option of two new Interislander ferries that can carry cars, passengers and rail. It will all be much cheaper of course than the iRex project, but no actual contract ha...

The Finance Minister is hopeful she can bring more competition to the supermarket sector.  The Government's seeking advice on breaking up the duopoly, possibly separating their retail and wholesale arms. Nicola Willis says New Zealand currently has one of the least competitive grocery markets in the world - and Kiwis are paying more at the checkout as a result. "What I want to achieve is a pr...

The Government's asking people to dob in too many road cones at work sites. A telephone hotline is planned - for people to report excesses. It'll be manned and funded by WorkSafe. It's been announced at the same time as Health and Safety at Work Act changes, with a focus on reducing the load on smaller businesses. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has voiced support with this...

I reckon Nicola Willis is bluffing - she's having a laugh. She's not really going to take a sledge hammer to the supermarkets. She has threatened to do this, she's had consultants come and do some work on it, but she's not serious about doing it. There's two main reasons as to why not. One: Splitting up the brands like Pak N Save and New World form each other is a drastic action to take. It c...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 31 March 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters speaks to Ryan Bridge about the two new ferries he's got Cabinet to sign off on. Auckland Pride's Bhen Goodsir speaks about the controversy surrounding Green MP's Benjamin Doyle, and their use of sexualised terms next to images of their child on social media. Finance Minister Nicola Will...

Auckland Pride has been quick to accuse Winston Peters of 'conspiratorial fear-mongering' following his criticisms of Green MP Benjamin Doyle. The Deputy Prime Minister has criticised historic Instagram posts by Doyle that included sexually suggestive captions. Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says Peters' constant attacks fan the flames of hate - with Doyle receiving death threats. Auckland Pride...

Damian McKenzie has turned down overseas offers to remain in New Zealand through until 2029. The All Blacks and Chiefs playmaker says there were offers to return to Japan on a full-time basis. But McKenzie says he still wanted to stick around and experience all the All Blacks had to offer. "There's no place like home either - in fact, the next two years are going to be a big couple of years for my...

Australian households are set to gain some federal help to cut down on their energy bills. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese aims to cut down the cost of household batteries to make electricity costs more manageable for Australian households. Australian correspondent Jake Battrick says these batteries are solar-powered - and cost households up to $10,000. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Damian McKenzie is singling out the 2029 tour by the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand as a major reason behind his re-signing with NZR. The Chiefs and All Blacks playmaker is the first player to ink a deal that incorporates the next Lions tour. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister-in-charge has promised Interislander's ferries are safe until our new ones arrive. The Government's announced specifications for two ships - rail enabled and larger than the current pair - for roll out by Christmas 2029. Picton's port infrastructure will be replaced, but money will be saved by modifications and refurbishment in Wellington. Previous plans were canned in 2023, after cos...

Small businesses will have less health and safety obligations under new reforms.  Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has revealed her first changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act.  She says small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs.  BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it wil...