Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government's celebrating a substantial drop in the number of victims of violent crime. Data from the latest Crime and Victims Survey shows there were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to last October, compared to the two previous years.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is good news, especially considering how frequent violent incidents and...

Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern is now living across the Tasman.  A spokesperson for Ardern says the family has been travelling for a few years now and for the moment they’re basing themselves out of Australia.  The statement says they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows wee...

New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka by 61 runs in their super eight cricket match at the men's T20 World Cup in Colombo. The Black Caps recovered from 84 for six to post 168 for seven - the tournament co-hosts replied with 107 for eight. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's car-clamping system - targeting people owing fines and victim reparations - appears to be paying off.  A law change since July allows cars to be clamped until people not paying court fines cough up.  More than $700,000 has been paid since. Independent Victims Advocate, Claire Buckley, says about 600 people paid on the spot.  "I think it's always been known that most...

The head of France’s Louvre museum has resigned after a months-long string of scandals, including the brazen daylight theft of priceless jewels. Laurence des Cars submitted her resignation letter to President Emmanuel Macron, after facing months of pressure since the October robbery of US$100 million ($167.5m) of French crown jewels.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says some believe this resigna...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 25 February, 2026, we talk to Transport Minister Chris Bishop about plans to let E-scooters use cycle lanes and allow children under-12 to ride their bikes on the footpath. Why the Reserve Bank wants banks to set up more ATMs and branches. Real Estate agent Rawdon Christie tells us why so many newly built townhouses aren't sell...

New Zealand won't be going cashless anytime soon under the Reserve Bank's new proposal.  It wants to set up 1300 multi-bank hubs to provide full services free of charge. The plan ensures those in urban areas can walk to get cash - and the drive for those living rurally is reasonable.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

AI firm Anthropic has made upgrades to their Claude model and it's sparked concerns about what this could mean for markets and jobs. Claude specialises in coding and technology, and IBM's stock recently took a hit - with experts citing the model as a reason. Milford Asset Management expert Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute 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! Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election. This move has prompted plenty of debate about the pros and cons. What do we think of this?  The Gover...

The Government announced today it wants to shake up the road rules a little - allowing kids under the age of 12 to ride their bikes on the footpath, and letting e-scooters use cycleways. Now, it might surprise you to learn that both of those things are against the rules. Kids aren’t allowed on footpaths on their bikes unless the wheel diameter is roughly the length of a ruler or smaller, and e-sco...

A positive financial result has gentailer Meridian thinking about infrastructure upgrades.  It recorded a half year profit after tax of $227 million. Chief executive Mike Roan says they're considering increasing capacity at the Pukaki dam in the Mackenzie basin.  He says it's still early days though.  "The question that I've asked the team is - is it economic to do it? Does it actua...

Questions have been raised over whether adding politicians in Australia would improve law-making or just add bureaucracy. Australia's Labor Government is pushing to add 40 members to Parliament before the 2028 election.  Nine News chief political editor Charles Croucher says electorates are so large that it's becoming harder for single MPs to represent them.  But he says Australia also h...

A real estate agent says there isn't enough demand to meet the supply of townhouses. Newly constructed townhouses are sitting on the market so long that they no longer qualify as 'new builds'.  It means first-home buyers can't get low-deposit loans on the property.  Real Estate Agent Rawdon Christie says developers are shifting close to what the market wants.  "So rather than puttin...

A record-breaking State of the Union speech from Donald Trump. His 107 minute address today is the longest since records began in 1964. The US president also spoke directly to invited guests - including the US Olympic champion men's hockey team, victims of crime by illegal immigrants, and a 100-year-old World War II veteran.  Reuters reporter Bo Erickson says Trump covered a wide-range of top...

The Transport Minister says rule change proposals hope to return some common sense lost in New Zealand, long ago. The Government's today announced proposals to let under-13s bike on footpaths and allow e-scooters in cycle lanes. Consultation's open for the next month via the Transport Agency. Chris Bishop says it could mean some details may change and he's happy to take feedback on the policies in...

Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington. The US President's spoke for nearly two hours - with topics ranging from the cost of living, defence and immigration.  It's the longest State of the Union speech since at least 1964. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the highlights of the addre...

US President Donald Trump has broken records with his recent State of the Union speech. The President's address lasted more than an hour and 40 minutes, making it the longest speech before a joint session of Congress since 1964.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump claimed the US has been 'turned around' and praised his handling of the economy and defence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

Scott Robertson will get an opportunity to coach against the Springboks this year. The former All Blacks mentor will guide the Barbarians for matches against the world champions and Wales. The fixture against South Africa is on June 20 at Port Elizabeth. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's emphasising the importance of cash services being free-of-charge. It's proposed requiring the banking sector to provide accessible full-cash services across the country - at $104 million a year. The plan ensures those in urban areas can walk to get cash, and the drive for those living rurally is reasonable.  Money and Cash Director Ian Woolford says people don't expect to p...

Peter Mandelson has been released on bail hours after his earlier arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Met Police. This follows an investigation that took place earlier in the month over allegations that, while he was serving as a Government minister, Mandelson passed on sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Mandelson has denied any...

New Zealand's Ukrainian ambassador says the end of the war still seems a long time away.  Today marks four years since the start of the large scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Our Government's pledged another $8 million dollars in support, taking out total contribution to about $150 million. Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko says Vladimir Putin has already seen 1.2 million of h...

Momentum's sky-high for state-owned farming enterprise Pāmu. Landcorp's half-year net operating profit jumped $28 million - from a $2 million loss in December 2024 to a $26 million profit last December.  It's forecasting a record full-year net operating profit of up to $107 million. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Early childhood education fees have soared, which could see more facilities closing their doors. Do we need the Government to intervene and help keep these facilities going? The People’s Select Committee of former MPs...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 24 February, 2026, we talk to former National MP Marilyn Waring about the Unofficial People's Select Committee report on pay equity changes. We ask Ukraine's ambassador what it would take to end the four-year war with Russia. A third of New Zealanders have savings of less than $500 - but South Islanders are better savers. And on...

So, the People’s Select Committee of former MPs has reported back today and, completely unsurprisingly, has slammed the Government for scrapping the pay equity law last year. Which is fair enough in some ways, it was a shoddy process. The MPs say it offends the rule of law and they’re probably right. It was done in a hurry to save last year’s Budget, rushed through under urgency and changed the ru...