Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Airlines are now treating the fuel crisis as a long term issue. The conflict in Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has forced airfare rises and route cuts. Board of Airline Representatives NZ Executive Director, Cath O'Brien, says airlines have to look well ahead. "At the moment, we're planning for the season that runs October to March. As we plan ahead, we have to plan networks on a tot...

The Guardians of the Super Fund are considering their response to a High Court ruling parts of its sustainable investment policy were unreasonable and unlawful. The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa sought a judicial review over the fund's failure to divest investment in Israeli companies complicit in illegally occupying Palestine.  Their lawyer, Frances Joychild KC says the court has ask...

National says Labour's sending mixed messages on tax.  Yesterday, lobby group Tax Justice Aotearoa called for a comprehensive capital gains tax and wealth taxes. Labour's revenue spokesperson Deborah Russell says the group has 'really good suggestions', and refuses to say whether Labour's current capital gains tax policy goes far enough.  Meanwhile, leader Chris Hipkins says the party wo...

A fire raging at Australia's Geelong oil refinery since last night has been extinguished. The blaze broke out at the motor gasoline unit, and is expected to affect petrol production. The site produces 10 percent of the country's fuel - one of only two refineries in Australia. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says investigations will be taking place into the incident - and the damage is 'extens...

The Football Ferns will attend a seventh women’s World Cup next year in Brazil after beating Papua New Guinea 1-nil in the Oceania qualifying final. The result capped a dominant campaign - New Zealand scored 25 goals without conceding. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With fuel prices rising amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, more people have turned to buses in order to get around. National bus company InterCity says it has increased fares in the face of escalating diesel prices, but the increase in demand has helped offset the costs. Entrada Travel Group chief operating officer Sam Peate says they're hoping this trend will continue even after oil pr...

Harry and Meghan have taken a four-day tour to Australia, where they've been combining visits to charitable causes alongside money-making events. This is the pair's first time in Australia since 2018, where they visited as part of an 'intense' royal tour. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacked the reactions further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue has claimed New Zealand needs higher taxes, building off earlier arguments made by Treasury. It sees scope to increase the goods and services tax (GST) rate - offering a cash transfer to low-income earners - and tax more capital gains. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shares in A2 Milk dropped this week after the company downgraded their earnings forecast - after the business was hoping to increase their net profit for the June year. A2 Milk has cited supply chain issues, partly relating to the conflict in the Middle East. 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 former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Bunnings is set to begin rolling out facial recognition technology in some stores in order to combat retail crime. Do we think this is the way to go? Will other big stores follow suit? Has the Government made the right cal...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 15 April, 2026, a top economist explains why the Government's not properly preparing for a fuel crisis. A nutritionist disputes Donald Trump's claim that diet drinks kill cancer cells. Former All Blacks captain Taine Randell tells us why he wants to be the New Zealand First MP for Tukituki. And on The Huddle, Maurice Williamson...

If you haven’t watched the Bunnings video yet showing its staff being attacked, I recommend you go and watch it - especially if you feel uneasy about the company using CCTV for facial recognition. It’s a compilation of incidents that have occurred in its stores. The first incident shows a man pulling a knife on a staff member and threatening them so he can walk out the door with two trolleys’ wort...

A Kiwi startup designed around rethinking the way we sleep is getting international recognition. Do Not Disturb Sleep Company, an Auckland manufacturer of premium sleep products, has secured a multi-million-dollar distribution, sales, and marketing agreement in the US. Founder Chris Larcombe says the brand's grown and evolved over the years, and this is great news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

Repeat offenders are the target of the recent Bunnings facial recognition technology rollout. It's turning on scanners in Te Rapa and Hamilton South today, before later rolling them out countrywide. Threats have more than doubled in the hardware retailer's stores in the past four years, 34 percent from repeat offenders. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines says data on regular shopp...

Ex-All Blacks captain Taine Randell says he's joining New Zealand First for this year's election, after a long dance with the party. An announcement by leader Winston Peters was scheduled at a public meeting in Hastings on Sunday, but cancelled because of Cyclone Vaianu.  Randall's likely to become Hawke’s Bay official candidate in coming weeks.  He says he's fortunate to have had a grea...

An employment expert's raising his eyebrows over Xero investigating complaints against the newly crowned New Zealander of the Year. The tech company's reviewing a decade-old accusation of inappropriate behaviour from former chief executive Sir Rod Drury - which has come to light, and he denies. Employment relations specialist Max Whitehead says Xero can't do much. "It's a mystery why Xero are taki...

Fears the Government isn't taking the fuel crisis seriously enough. We have 56.3 days of petrol, 45.4 days of diesel, and 47 days of jet fuel, either landed or on the way. Simplicity chief economist, Shamubeel Eaqub says there seems to be a lack of certainty the fuel will actually arrive. He says we should be conserving supplies more.  "Because any time we buy now gives us more resilience."&n...

Former All Blacks captain Taine Randell will stand as a New Zealand First candidate at this year's election. He's reportedly set to  contest the Tukituki seat, currently held by National's Catherine Wedd. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains why this is big news for NZ First. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world could pay a high price for the US launching war on Iran. Global shipping's in turmoil as Donald Trump's naval blockade in creases uncertainty - although he's hinting peace talks could resume. The International Monetary Fund's warning a prolonged conflict could tilt the global economy towards recession.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson unpacked the concerns further. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Moana Pasifika's inaugural head coach is saddened by the franchise's uncertain Super Rugby future. The Pasifika Medical Association owners will not fund another campaign - leaving Moana in limbo. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith speculates further about the side's future. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United States President Donald Trump has claimed that diet soft drinks could potentially eliminate cancer cells. This was revealed in a podcast interview with Dr Oz, who heads Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Nutritionist Nikki Hart has disputed this claim - and says it's 'alarming' that the US President is saying this.  "We know that non-nutritive sweeteners in diet drinks - there...

Former US president Barack Obama has revealed Queen Elizabeth II didn't approve of the Brexit referendum. The new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History, revealed that the late monarch questioned why a major political decision would be left to a public vote. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the Queen also voiced concerns with Donald Trump's presidency. LISTEN ABOVE...

The ongoing Middle East conflict has seen Australia business confidence hit lows not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. The US has today moved to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and the supply shock is likely to hit households hard, according to experts. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Tō Waha Media's Carmen Parahi joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  More people are planning to boycott road user charges as the Middle East conflict continues and fuel prices go up. Do we think this will become a serious movement?  There's warning an OCR hike could come as soon as next...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 14 April, 2026, a leading economist warns interest rates could go up as early as next month. We talk to a religious expert about how insulting it is to see Donald Trump depicted as Jesus. Why there's no room for the Crusaders' horses at Christchurch's new stadium. And on The Huddle, Carmen Parahi and Tim Wilson come up with alter...