Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

David Seymour is playing down criticism after he drove a 77-year-old Land Rover up the front steps of Parliament.  Parliamentary security stopped the ACT leader before he got further than a few stairs. Seymour says it was just a bit of fun and he was doing it for charity - to raise money for children's heart disease. "I think if the people from 1948 were around, they'd be astonished that I go...

The Government has unveiled its first quarterly action plan for 2025, with a focus on growth and expanding the economy. A two-day international investment summit next month is one of 40 actions in the plan, with Luxon saying he wants to encourage more investment in New Zealand. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains what projects might draw potential investors into this country. LI...

Victorian voters in the outer-western suburban state seat of Werribee have voiced their feedback in this weekend's by-election - and they're not too happy with Labor's output. Labor had held the state seat of Werribee since 1973, but this time, both major parties received less than 30 percent of the first-preference vote.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this paints a concerning...

Concerns have been rising about a possible diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. A couple of weeks ago, Foreign Minister Winston Peters publicly admonished the President of Kiribati for refusing to engage - and diplomatic aid was put under review. Peters also recently released a harsh statement directed at Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown as Brown prepares to sign a deal i...

The Philadelphia Eagles have dashed the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of a three-peat, with a dominant 40-22 win. Quarterback Jalen Hurts scored three touchdowns - two passing and one rushing score. The win comes after the Eagles' last Super Bowl appearance two years ago, where they lost to the Chiefs. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recaps the game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 7 February 2025, Health New Zealand Chief Executive Margie Apa calls it quits before her term is up - Health Commentator Ian Powell talks about what's gone wrong at the top level?  Three vehicles have failed to stop after hitting a person on an Auckland motorway overnight... we ask why people are fleeing accidents? Cam Mitche...

Sky City says a February opening date for its International Convention Centre is prudent.  The Centre was initially planned to open in 2020, but a major roof fire in 2019 - followed by the Covid-19 pandemic - set the project back substantially.  Fletcher Building will now hand it over in June.  Chief Operating Officer Callum Mallett says the next stage of commissioning and operation...

Medal events for the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been announced - and there's a surprising change to a popular race.  The 1,500 metre race will be replaced by a returning event - the Commonwealth Mile.  The Mile was last run in 1966, where New Zealand had two athletes compete.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three drivers who fatally hit a man walking on Auckland's South-Western Motorway are being urged to come forward.  Not one stopped, despite striking the man after he entered the northbound Dominion Road offramp about 1:30am.  Former Police Detective Lance Burdett says it's highly unusual to have three vehicles not stopping.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Relationship issues and organisational structure are thought to be contributing factors to Health NZ CEO Margie Apa's resignation.  She's left the job six months early - saying a different leadership approach is needed.  Health commentator Ian Powell says Apa's relationship with Health Commissioner Lester Levy was untenable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

BussinessDesk reports sources say supply issues meant the country got down to its last 50 rounds of artillery ammunition. NZDF is adamant it has the stock it needs - but isn't answering whether supplies got so diminished.  Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says if stocks get too low, training stops. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week another police officer was struck by a vehicle, this time in Huntly. The officer suffered moderate injuries.  It comes after the horrible New Year's Day incident in which Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was killed and another officer injured after being struck by a vehicle in Nelson.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell said on the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning, Police and first re...

A mass shooting in Sweden has left 11 dead, with many more still in hospital after the attack. A gunman opened fire at an adult education centre in the city of Örebro, west of Stockholm - and police have yet to discover any links to gangs or organised crime. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the suspected assailant was among the dead, and investigations are still ongoing into a motive. LISTEN ABOVE...

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has reported its latest financial earnings - and the investors aren't thrilled. Shares reportedly dropped 7 percent after the company posted a slight miss in expected revenue. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor unpacked the market factors behind this drop. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand has confirmed it is looking into developing a new luxury lounge for frequent flyers. The airline is staying tight-lipped about what these plans entail - but the idea was floated during a presentation for investors during their Investor Day late last year. Aviation commentator Irene King says Air New Zealand's existing lounges tend to crowd out during peak times - and the airline mi...

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners 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! A new article out in the Herald today revealed TJ Perenara left the All Blacks in the dark about his controversial haka from the end of 2024. How problematic is this? US President Donald Trump has claimed the...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 5 February 2025, Donald Trump says the US is going to take over Gaza after meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ryan Bridge asks international relations professor Robert Patman if we should believe it's going to happen. The bombshell revelation from a group of scientists who believe that convicted child murde...

The Government is talking up the fact it’s exploring ways of making the tax system more business-friendly, with details of potential changes to be unveiled at the May 22 Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is wary that at 28 percent, New Zealand’s corporate tax rate is above the OECD average of 24 percent. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny speculates what the Government migh...

DeepSeek, the new Chinese AI-powered chatbot platform that made headlines all over the world, will be banned from Australian Government devices after it was found to pose an 'unacceptable' security risk. The ChatGPT competitor has seen a surge in downloads worldwide after it attracted international attention for wiping billions from Wall Street and causing a frenzy. AI commentator and psychologist...

TJ Perenara's infamous haka that divided the nation also ended up dividing the team, according to new reports. The speech in te reo before the test against Italy in Turin came after the march to Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles bill. The Herald reports many within the All Blacks felt blindsided, with a limited number made aware of the halfback's intentions hours before kick-off. NZ Hera...

ACT's leader doesn't want the Waitangi Trust to face financial repercussions following an intense day at the Treaty grounds. New Zealand First MP Shane Jones made threatening sounds about Trust funding, after describing some people's behaviour today as a 'circus'. David Seymour had his microphone taken away twice during his speech - but he says the Trust puts a huge effort into the day. "It's not...

Kiwibank says the latest unemployment figures are ugly, but in line with expectations.  The unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent in the December quarter - the highest it's been since September 2020.  It's being blamed on a slow economy reducing demand and making employers trim jobs.  Chief economist Jarrod Kerr says the Reserve Bank needs to do more to put New Zealand into recovery...

Donald Trump's suggestion he could take over Gaza casts a shadow on hopes for a two-state solution.  The President said today Palestinians could be resettled and the US could redevelop the territory. Israel's Prime Minister says the idea is worth paying attention to.  Otago University politics professor Robert Patman says one problem is the lack of any clarity on Benjamin Netanyahu's end...

New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is threatening to withhold Waitangi funding, over recent actions at the commemorations. Protesters turned their backs on ACT leader David Seymour as he addressed the crowd, with some displaying messages around honouring Te Tiriti. Some took his microphone off him, and others sang as he spoke. Jones has since asked what the point of funding the Trust is - if it has...

There's disbelief and criticism over comments on the Middle East by the US President. Donald Trump's suggested Palestinians should leave Gaza for Jordan and Egypt - and the US will take over and redevelop the land. Saudi Arabia says a Palestinian state is needed, and Hamas has labelled the plan a recipe for chaos.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump's plan lacks a lot of clarity - and...