Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper talked to Heather du Plessis-Allan about today's political hot topics. Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has been reinstated to Te Pāti Māori, for now, after she took her expulsion from the party to court. A leaked phone call between European leaders shows confidence in Trump's loyalty to Ukraine is not strong. And, ten years ago we voted against changing...

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s membership of Te Pāti Māori has been reinstated after she took her expulsion from the party to court. Although, the decision is an interim measure ahead of a substantive hearing on February 2, where legal expert Graeme Edgler believes her reinstatement will be reversed.  Edgler told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "ultimately, if Te Pāti Māori wants to get rid of this person...

In 2021, the night before the infamous January 6 insurrection, bombs were placed at Democratic National Convention and Republican headquarters. Police were able to deactivate the bombs, but, until now, the culprit was a mystery.  On December 4, the FBI arrested a 30-year-old Virginia man, Brian Cole Jr., for the crime. And, the US continues to target alleged drug boats, yesterday killing four...

Here's a question for you... is our summer holiday too long? Are we going to the beach and staying away from the office for too long? There's a chap called Toss Grumley who thinks so, he's written a column about it. He's a young mover and shaker, business advisor, director, investor in multiple New Zealand entities. He reckons that our summer breaks are so long now that we're pretty much winding d...

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier is currently visiting the UK, marking the first UK state visit by a German head of state in decades. "The overriding two themes from this state visit is the brilliant relationship between Berlin and London now, and strength and solidarity for Ukraine from these two countries," UK Correspondent Edna Brady told Heather du Plessis-Allan.  Brady also touch...

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! We could be looking at the next Netball scandal... at NZ Cricket. A bunch of ex Black Caps have signed an open letter highly critical of a new independent T20 competition. What do you make of their concerns? Ikea is open, and pe...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 4 December. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next week a social media ban for anyone under-16 will take effect in Australia. Some Meta accounts have already been deleted as the deadline looms.  Former Facebook Australia New Zealand CEO Stephen Scheeler told Heather du Plessis-Allan he believes an under-16 ban will become the 'new normal'.  "Now there are benefits to social media for many teens as well, but the negative effects, I t...

Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) members voted to accept the Governments recent pay offer, officially bringing an end to the striking... for now. The settlement includes a 4.6 percent pay increase over two years, and increased allowances for teachers who have management roles or other special responsibilities. PPTA president Chris Abercrombie told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "we're pleased...

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper talked to Heather du Plessis-Allan about today's political hot topics. Expelled MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi was heard by Justice Radich in the Wellington High Court in regard to her interim injunction against Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended the IKEA opening in Auckland today. And, head of the Justic...

Swedish flat-pack furniture giant IKEA opened in Auckland today with a more mild turnout than expected. But, as customers are expected to flock to the new store in the weeks leading up to Christmas, questions over it's potential market domination arise.  Forsyth Barr retail analyst Paul Koraua believes IKEA may put positive pressure on other companies to perform better for their customers. "I...

Australia has announced plans to force gas companies to keep more fuel onshore.  The Labor Government is set to announce an east coast gas reservation scheme in the coming weeks with the hopes it will lower gas and energy prices in the country.  Meanwhile, raising tobacco prices has come back to bite the Government as the black market grows exponentially. Australian correspondent Murray...

The Government announced some changes to retirement villages today following thousands of submissions.  The changes aim to support residents by giving the villages a specific timeframe of 12 months to repay residents after they vacate a unit.  Until now there was no repayment deadline.  Retirement Village Residents Council spokesperson Carol Shepherd told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "...

Former Prince Andrew will get to stay in the Royal Lodge for another year, but likely won't receive compensation for the early termination of his lease.  A shipment of German ammunition, thought to be 20,000 rounds, has been stolen from a delivery lorry after the driver for a civilian transport company left his truck in an unguarded parking lot. The Bank of England has warned of a potential "...

In the end, I think Andrew Coster had to go. Look, you realize he's won a big victory today, don't you? Cause it's a big admission from the Public Service commissioner today that Andrew Coster didn't do anything wrong himself. He hadn't committed any personal wrongdoing and it's a big admission also that there was no cover-up. And the reason that it's a big admission is because of the number of ti...

Tonight on The Huddle Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Andrew Coster has quit his role as CEO of the Social Investment Agency. He'll get paid three months notice, like a few other high profile servants who have recently "resigned". Are you uncomfortable that we're paying people out to quit r...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 3 December. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned from his position as CEO of the Social Investment Agency following an Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into how police handled complaints against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said the result was 'appropriate', but shared positive experiences working with Coster.  Roc...

In 2021 retired veterinarian and ex-mayoral candidate Leo Molloy was convicted for knowingly publishing a name in breach of a suppression. In a forum on the NZ Premier Racing Community’s website called “Main Street Cafe” Molloy made a post identifying Jesse Kempson as Grace Millane's killer before he was publicly named.  The Veterinary Council is now seeking censure and a $23,000 fine. "Not o...

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper talked to Heather du Plessis-Allan about today's political hot topics. Ex-Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned from his role as the CEO of the Social Investment Agency amid an inquiry into his involvement in the McSkimming case. The Treasury is over halfway through a review of state asset ownership, but they say the review is not driven...

Accusations of mouldy school lunches from Haeata Community Campus has caused much back and forth between principal Peggy Burrows and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour as blame is passed around.  In an effort to get to the bottom of who is telling the truth Heather du Plessis-Allan grilled Seymour about the facts of the situation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Grammy award winning popstar Sabrina Carpenter has slammed the White House after using her song 'Juno' in a video of immigration raids.  She called the video 'evil and disgusting'. US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "I think the administration posts these videos, with music from vocal critics of their own campaign and administration, knowing full well the respon...

An estimate from vehicle admin app Bonnet puts half of New Zealanders behind on their WOF or registration. Bonnet CEO Steph Kennard told Heather du Plessis-Allan the cost of living crisis is likely a contributing factor, alongside forgetfulness. Further concerns of financial pressure and forgetfulness are added when considering the incoming implementation of road user charges. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

On Monday, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown revealed his plan for a 7.9% rates increase to pay for City Rail Link running costs of an estimated $235 million annually.  This is the largest rate rise since Auckland Council was formed in 2010. Questions have begun arising of the legitimacy of Wayne Browns calculation of City Rail Link's projected running costs. Auckland Ratepayers Alliance spokesperso...

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown defends his annual $235 million operating cost calculation for the City Rail Link as scepticism arises.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "most of when you pay your rates, is paying things off. They're not free. "It's not free to have a road. It's not free to have a train. It's not free to have a bus." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...