Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Nvidia, the world's largest listed company and a critical bellwether on the health of the AI sector, posted record first-quarter earnings on Thursday of more than $136 billion. That's up 85 percent on a year ago, with forecasts for the next quarter of over $153 billion. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zespri has improved its profitability by selling more fruit at a higher value, according to new reports. The grower-owned kiwifruit marketer released its full-year results for the 2025/26 season, and it sold 248.1 million trays, up from 220.9m the year prior, with New Zealand supply reaching 215.6m, increasing from 193m.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystud...

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Why is Napier's mayor in a feud with the city's Youth Council? What do we make of this?  Will Chris Bishop's social housing overhaul fix the issues with the system, or will it contribute to t...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 21 May, 2026, Chris Bishop on a social housing overhaul that'll leave some people worse off. The Corrections boss on cracking a network of corruption among her staff. Former Defence Minister Ron Mark tells us how our troops could help Ukrainian armed forces. And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Thomas Scrimgeour on the Napier m...

For anyone still labouring under the impression that New Zealand is an innocent little place like it was 50 years ago, those prison busts should absolutely shatter that delusion. What happened was the single biggest bust in our prison system: 20 people arrested and charged across three different prisons - Mount Eden, Spring Hill and Auckland South.  They have been charged with allegedly smugg...

Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to go public - allowing people to trade shares in the firm on the stock market. The initial public offering (IPO) on the US stock market will likely be one of the largest in Wall Street history. NZ Herald senior business writer Chris Keall says this will likely come close to making Elon Musk a trillionaire.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Leaders of the Napier Youth Council wrote to the chief executive of Napier City Council after a public event they attended, claiming Napier mayor Richard McGrath called them a 'bunch of idiots who can't use pen and paper'. McGrath denied he said that and said he believed the Youth Council had been unfairly dragged into a political game. Hawke’s Bay editor Chris Hyde has been following from the sid...

A former Defence Minister says our forces will help plug a gap in Ukraine aid. The Government's revealed New Zealand will be involved in an initiative to train Ukraine forces in Poland.  It includes personnel from countries like Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. Ron Mark says Ukraine soldiers do basic training before learning specialties.  "What does New Zealand of...

Ahead of Budget 2026, the Government has confirmed changes are coming to social housing costs. State housing tenants will pay a minimum 30 percent of their income on rent - up from 25 percent from next April. Accommodation supplements for private renters will increase. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says the current system doesn't work for taxpayers or Kiwis on the list for social housing. "There's...

The acting head of Corrections says staff integrity is a priority, after revelations of a major prison corruption investigation. Twenty people have been charged, including 15 Corrections and Reintegration officers at Auckland's Mt Eden, Waikato's Spring Hill, and Auckland South Corrections facilities - and five members of the public. They're accused of smuggling phones, drugs and tobacco to prison...

A major overhaul of social housing will see costs for renters going up. From next April, 30 percent state tenants' income will go into rent - up from 25 percent, about $31 dollars more a week. That'll be re-invested into increasing the Accommodation Supplement. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says the Government wants to reduce social housing costs, saying it's not getting bang for buck on what it s...

Australian media is reporting over 230 cases of diphtheria in 2026, primarily in the Northern Territory, but also in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. The outbreak is the largest in decades, with the disease previously considered largely eradicated - and one person has reportedly died as a result. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the federal Government aims to get workfor...

Netball New Zealand have appointed experienced administrator Jennah Wootten as their new chief executive. Wootten has held a number of roles at various organisations including Sport New Zealand, ATEED, and the 2021 women's Cricket World Cup. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new research report from engineering firm WSP and the Helen Clark Foundation claims more Government agencies need to factor cost-benefit analysis in planning their projects. The report, Measuring what Matters, found hat despite billions of dollars being spent on infrastructure each year, New Zealand lacks a mandatory, system-wide requirement for demonstrating value for money across investment de...

The UK Government has loosened strict sanctions on Russian oil refined into diesel and jet fuel in third countries as prices rise.  The effective blockade of the key Strait of Hormuz has continued to generate supply chain concerns, and jet fuel and pump prices are getting higher - with no hope for change in sight. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says experts are predicting fuel prices will go hig...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think the public much cares about which companies would be in the party's Future Fund.  It won't be revealing key details - including the cost to the Crown and which state assets would go into it - until after voters go to the polls. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacked the reactions to this announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 20 May, 2026, we ask Regulation Minister David Seymour if 267 regulators in New Zealand is too many. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson tells us if it's landed three more Air New Zealand international flights because Auckland Airport is charging too much. In an exclusive interview, we hear why new Breakers coach...

The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to bond yields and interest rates going up all over the world, and it's prompted concerns among experts. This will impact Kiwis as well, as many KiwiSaver portfolios have taken a hit as a result. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson 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!  The Government has confirmed there's more public service cuts to come ahead of Budget 2026. What do we make of this? Do we think AI can really replace all these jobs?  What are the chances of Auckl...

I’ve got to tell you something – I’m embarrassed.   Watching this public debate about how many public servant jobs are going to be cut in order to make way for AI is just embarrassing.  The fact we’re having this debate at all is ultimately Nicola Willis’s fault, because she listed three expectations when she announced the reform of the public service:  1) That agencies amalgamate&n...

Infratil says it has agreed to sell 53.53 million shares - representing a 5 percent stake - in Contact Energy through a fully underwritten block trade. The sale is at $9.25 per ordinary share, generating expected gross proceeds of about $495.17 million, and taking Infratil’s shareholding down to 9.08 percent. The sell-down is expected to complete on May 25. Generate investment specialist Greg Smit...

New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth.  Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city. "People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want...

The New Zealand Breakers have pulled off a massive coup by securing experienced coach Gordon Herbert on a two-year deal. He replaces Petteri Koponen, who parted ways with the Auckland-based franchise in February after two years in the role. Herbert says he's 'incredibly excited' to join the team in this new role.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for a string of dating app attacks in Invercargill to be treated as a hate crime. Two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds have been charged with aggravated burglary, after four alleged incidents in which people were lured to secluded locations through dating apps and attacked. YouBeYou founder Gordy Lockhart says it appears to be a targeted attack, taking advantage of gay men's...

Regulation Minister David Seymour says New Zealanders should only have to knock at one regulator's door to get something done. A Ministry report out today identifies almost 270 different organisations within our regulation system.  They're spread across central and local Government, and statutory bodies, committees and tribunals. Seymour says this feels like New Zealand is a small country wit...