Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has begun and we now have a clearer picture of how it’s going to work. It doesn’t just cover the strait itself. It runs along the entire Iranian coastline, out through the Gulf of Oman, which the strait feeds into, and then further again into the Arabian Sea. At least two ships have already been turned back. One of them, unsurprisingly, was headed for China. No...

Fonterra has named Richard Allen as its new chief executive, succeeding Miles Hurrell. Allen - who joined Fonterra as a graduate in 2008 and has worked in various roles across the dairy co-operative - will take over next month. Hurrell will remain in a transition advisory role until September. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

New Zealand's growing a reputation among the global tourism industry for its difficult inter-island travel.  Industry workers who attended the world's leading travel trade show in Berlin have made claims that ferry disruptions are leaving tourists and travel companies wary about the possibility of getting stuck while here.   Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green says it's...

The National Road Carriers Association says a boycott to road user charges over high diesel prices isn't the right answer. Fuel tracking app Gaspy reports diesel is selling for an average 3.89 a litre, while 91 is 3.48. A number of online groups have raised the prospect of a RUC boycott. Chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says Cyclone Vaianu was a good example of why it's needed.  "All of th...

Design constraints have ruled out letting the Crusaders’ matchday horses have a run - in Christchurch’s new stadium. The six horses have featured at home games since 1996, but the space limits at One NZ Stadium leave just seven metres between the sideline and LED signage. Venues Otautahi chief executive, Caroline Harvie-Teare, says it's not an unusual layout for a modern stadium, but means the hor...

The US President has defended posting an AI-generated image making him appear like Jesus Christ. It shows Donald Trump in a white robe holding a glowing light, and appearing to heal a sick man. It was posted just hours after a post criticising Pope Leo and has sparked fierce backlash from both sides of the US political spectrum.  Massey University's Peter Lineham says the post was clearly 'bl...

Another bank is predicting an upcoming OCR raise.  ANZ has already picked three consecutive Official Cash Rate hikes in July, September, and October. Now Westpac says it's becoming more of a possibility next month - but is more likely in September.  Chief economist Kelly Eckhold says the Reserve Bank will work from specific indicators.  "They're looking for indications that the peak...

Pope Leo says he'll keep speaking out against war, following criticism from Donald Trump. The US President attacked Leo yesterday, after the pontiff's previous criticism of the war on Iran and Trump's immigration policies. Trump's accused him of being terrible for foreign policy and weak on crime. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained the ongoing controversy further.&nbs...

The Iran war is prompting Qantas to scale back flights within Australia, but it's flying more to Paris and Rome. The airline's scaling back domestic Qantas and Jetstar flights about 5 percent. Qantas says fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, and remain highly volatile. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the airline's projected to make a loss amid the ongoing conflict - an...

Horses will be absent from Crusaders' match-day Super Rugby experiences at Christchurch's new stadium due to safety reasons. Officials say limited space around the field means the six steeds would have struggled to avoid the playing surface, therefore compromising the condition of the turf and creating potential injury risks.  Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See...

New Zealand scientists are developing a long-acting ketamine tablet, which could change therapeutic delivery of the drug. They're aiming to create a tablet patients can take at home once or twice a week, for treatment-resistant depression. The pill is now being pushed towards regulatory approval in the United States, to make it widely available. Otago University professor, Paul Glue, says it's a b...

The UK will not be involved in the US military blockade of Iran, according to new reports. The US announced the blockade after talks with Iran failed to secure a lasting peace deal in Pakistan over the weekend. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's still concern in the UK, with oil prices surging up again. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global oil prices have shot up again, with Donald Trump gunning for authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The President's announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, after peace talks collapsed in Pakistan yesterday.  Despite the ceasefire, he's looking at resuming strikes.   Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins has confirmed the party won't reveal their stance on the FTA with India until next week. Why do we think they're waiting? ANZ has forecasted three OCR hikes before the November election as the Middle East conf...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 13 April, 2026 , ANZ thinks the Reserve Bank will raise the OCR as early as July. Chief Economist Sharon Zollner gives us their reasons why. Labour is being coy on whether it will agree to support the Fair-Trade Agreement with India, Chris Hipkins explains. Did we over-hype the effects of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Vaianu? And if so, who...

Right, here’s a question I’d like to answer: Do we all have strange priorities in this country, or is it just the evening TV news that does? Last night, I sat through 13 minutes of TV One telling me nothing had happened with the cyclone before we finally got to the Iran situation, where something actually had happened. First, One News took us to a reporter in the Bay of Plenty, who told us a...

Concerns have been raised over the new Wellington water entity, as its board members will be paid twice as much as their Wellington Water counterparts. The group's new chair will be paid $110,000 - a higher figure than the $60,000 Wellington Water's previous chair was paid. The entity's CEO will also be paid $645,000 - a higher amount than the previous Wellington Water CEO got. Wellington mayor An...

There's growing concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict, and at least one major bank has forecasted increases to the OCR. ANZ has revised its outlook, with forecasted increases to the OCR bringing rates up to 3 percent by October. Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says skyrocketing fuel prices will have a flow-on effect on the New Zealand economy - and it's likely inflation will...

Labour's leader is demanding clarity on spending commitments in the India free trade deal - and isn't sure whether the party will back it.  The deal lives or dies on Labour's decision, with Coalition party NZ First refusing support.  Chris Hipkins says he's concerned about a clause he claims requires Kiwi businesses to invest $30 billion in India over 15 years.  He says he wants to...

A warning Iran has more ways to inflict economic pain if war resumes with the US, other than in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump's threatening a navy blockade of the shipping lane from 2am NZT after talks in Pakistan have brought no deal. Iran says military vessels approaching the Strait will be dealt with severely. Reuters Middle East correspondent Alexander Cornwell says UAE and Saudi Arabian...

Concern from pharmacists over revelations Chemist Warehouse is planning to double its sites in the next decade.  BusinessDesk reports a confidential briefing for Regulations Minister David Seymour shows it's aiming to have 140 stores. Independent Pharmacy Group Co-founder John Saywell says corporate chains are squeezing out small local chemists. "Bigger and cheaper isn't always better, and in...

The country's largest bank is now forecasting three Official Cash Rate hikes before the election. ANZ is predicting three consecutive increases in July, September, and October - bringing the OCR from 2.25 percent to 3 percent. A week ago, most economists were expecting the central bank to keep the OCR on hold until December. But the Reserve Bank's hawkish tone is prompting most to change their for...

The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump is considering resuming strikes on Iran, with no deal reached in Pakistan yesterday. The US President's announced his navy will blockade the Strait of Hormuz from 2am NZT. Iran says any military vessel approaching the Strait will be dealt with severely.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon has confirmed New Zealand has...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to Brunei and Malaysia to boost the nation's fuel supply amid the ongoing crisis. Malaysia and Brunei are key diesel suppliers to Australia, and Albanese has warned these nations could limit supply if the conflict continues.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese will leverage Australia's offerings to the regions - incl...

Rory McIlroy has joined an exclusive group of four to win the Masters back-to-back. The Northern Irishman has claimed a one-stroke victory to successfully defend the title that he won last year to claim a career grand slam. He joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in winning consecutive titles at Augusta. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...