Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 8 May, 2026, Winston Peters insists he won't support efforts by the National Party to raise the retirement age. We talk to one of the women who's accused Sir Rod Drury of inappropriate conduct about him handing back his New Zealander of the Year award.   The New Zealand Herald's media insider Shayne Currie on who should succe...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to start lifting the pension age if National get back into government after the coming election. Bipartisan support will most likely be needed to make this happen as parties, like NZ First, are staunchly against the reform. "Please do not attack grandmother and grandmother's savings to try and disguise for a brief time your economic incompetence," Winston Pet...

If it’s not already obvious to you, the fact that Maiki Sherman has lost her job should now make it very clear: the media—especially the state broadcasters, both of them—are about to find out what it means not just to make and report the news but to be the news. Just look at what’s happened this week alone. And this is only a sample—this has been building for some time. In one week, TVNZ political...

Opportunity Party, previously TOP, are coming in hot this election with a brand new leader Qiulae Wong.  Wong joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the party's campaign policies including universal basic income. She says the Opportunity Party is appealing to dissatisfied Green, National, and Labour voters.  "We are certainly seeing people from across the political spectrum coming to...

Over in the UK, Labour's bracing itself for a set of local, Scottish and Welsh election results. Reports claim a poor showing in these elections could bring about the end of Keir Starmer’s prime ministership, and significant losses are projected.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says there's growing calls for Starmer's resignation already - and people are losing confidence as Reform gets more att...

The cost of computer components has shot up, and there's concerns about what it could mean for the tech sector. The shortage of memory chips has prompted tech investors to worry about what this could mean for the market. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protein is seeing a surge in popularity all over the world, and that's great news for Kiwi farmers. Reports claim a boom industry has developed around supplying high protein calories for those who are losing muscle mass from taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Government has confirmed it plans to investigate the City Rail Link project, after reports revealed it could have cost $2 billion less. Do we think this review is needed? Is it time to lift the Super age from 65? Anot...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 7 May, 2026, Steve Lancaster is finally confirmed as the new chief executive of New Zealand Rugby. We talk about the prospect of an Anzac test. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka on changes that could see reserve land put up for sale. Youthline chief executive Shae Ronald tells us about the biggest issues confronting those aged 1...

Now, you would have thought that after all the publicity Wellington City Council has been getting - and the paid staff have been getting - for being caught doing things behind the backs of elected councillors, they probably wouldn’t do it again. And yet, here we are. They’ve been caught doing it again. The latest revelation is that they have decided to exempt themselves from a Government law broug...

The Conservation Minister says the new planned reforms of conservation law will benefit Kiwi businesses and biodiversity.  It lays the groundwork for reinvesting revenue from charging international tourists - estimated at about $60 million a year - back into conservation land. It also speeds up the Department of Conservation signing off leases and permits. Minister Tama Potaka says this will...

The rise in AI has seen demand for professionally written CVs in a bid to stand out against algorithms. Experts say while AI can be useful to screen hundreds of applicants faster, it's created a transparency gap between employers and jobseekers. CVs by Sarah director Sarah Wrightson says the screening software rules out applicants before a human gets a chance to look at their CVs, and it results i...

The Infrastructure Minister suspects the grandeur of Auckland's City Rail Link stations will surprise users. Chris Bishop's announced the build will be reviewed - after the project's former boss claimed it could have been completed for half the $5.5 billion spent.  Bishop says the architecture is amazing, and some might describe the stations as palaces.  "They're going to be incredible,...

New Zealand Rugby has appointed Steve Lancaster as the organisation’s new chief executive, after he spent six months as the interim CEO. In a statement, NZR chairman David Kirk congratulated Lancaster on the appointment - and said he brings 'strong experience at all levels of the game'. Lancaster says he's intent on turning up and doing the best job he can and he's focused on making the business s...

New Zealand's treading water, with a warning our increasingly overloaded pension system isn't sustainable. The latest OECD snapshot of our economy suggests unless we adjust systems, including the costs of health, long-term care and pension will increase by about five percent of GDP by 2060. It says it could be countered by changes including upping Superannuation contributions.  Economist Came...

There's claims new legislation brings the most significant reform of conservation law in nearly 40 years. A Government bill's been lodged, to allow reinvestment of international visitor fees into conservation, with estimates it'll raise $60 million a year. The reform will also speed up DOC decision making, with claims it will add consistency to processes for applying Treaty obligations. Newstalk Z...

Australia's unveiled a new multi-billion -dollar fuel security package to keep things going amid the ongoing global uncertainty. The plan, to be included in the upcoming federal budget, will fund the creation of a Government-owned fuel reserve and expand onshore storage to boost fuel supply. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the opposition has raised concerns about this - and said it's not...

Chairman David Kirk's accepting responsibility for a worldwide search for a New Zealand Rugby CEO that has ended with them promoting one of their own. Community rugby boss and interim chief executive Steve Lancaster is the new boss, ending a months-long search for a replacement for Mark Robinson. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Mental health organisations are struggling to get the attention of young people in need. The latest Youthline ASB State of the Generation report finds mental health is the largest issue, followed by lack of job opportunities and bullying.  The survey of 12-24-year-olds also suggests 41 percent don't know they can get help from support organisations.  Youthline chief executive Shae Ronald...

Weeks of uncertainty, over an outbreak of deadly hantavirus on a Dutch cruise ship travelling the Atlantic. Three people have died, with other cases confirmed and suspected. The 150 passengers are isolating in cabins, including one New Zealander.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says investigations are taking place into the outbreak, as it's unknown where it came from. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

A new test case for the standards of political neutrality expected in the public service. Craig Stobo has resigned as chair of the Financial Markets Authority, after an investigation found he'd voiced too many political views for someone in an apolitical public sector role. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

CDC Data Centres – half owned by infrastructure investor Infratil – says it has secured the largest data centre contract in Australia’s history, a 555 megawatt deal that takes its total contracted capacity to over one gigawatt. The 30-year contract is with an as-yet-unidentified United States high-end investment-grade customer and is inclusive of renewal options of up to 20 years. Milford Asset Ma...

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!  The Minister for Internal Affairs has unveiled a new multi-choice test for migrants looking to get New Zealand citizenship. Applicants would have to answer 20 questions and get 15 correct to pass. Do we...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 6 May, 2026, we talk to Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith about the axing of the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden explains the citizenship tests for would-be migrants. A parent coach tells us about an online guide to help parents navigate social media with their childr...

Well, blow me down - I did not think that Paul Goldsmith had the courage or the inclination to do something as bold as actually scrapping the Broadcasting Standards Authority. I thought it was all talk when he kept dropping it as a possibility but it turns out I was wrong. He’s announced the BSA is gone; the laws will be drawn up in the next few months and they’ll be passed before the next electio...