Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appeared to correct the Prime Minister for taking credit on a trade deal. Chris Luxon has confirmed New Zealand is one of a handful of nations that now has a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN - and posted that he made a deal with Southeast Asian nations. In a since-deleted tweet, Peters corrected Luxon with one word - 'we'. Newstalk ZB senior politi...

Hurricane Melissa is moving towards eastern Cuba, weakening further to a category three storm. The National Hurricane Center is still warning of powerful effects as it moves across Cuba and the Bahamas. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the hurricane's hit Jamaica hard, with heavy rainfall and damaging winds impacting the area. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Silver Ferns won't lack for belief heading into the deciding Constellation Cup netball test in Christchurch tonight. Australia leads the series 2-1, but if the Ferns win they'll force a tiebreaker - consisting of two seven-minute halves of overtime to determine the series winner. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

The Government's pushing ahead on updating land transport rules - kicking off public consultation today. It's considering simplifying heavy vehicle permits, and adding safety features like Automatic Emergency Braking. It'll also look at inspection rules for passenger vehicles like taxis and rentals, and lighter-vehicle Warrant of Fitness checks. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says these changes w...

King Charles has been heckled in public about his brother's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As the King visited a UK cathedral, a man bellowed out questions about Prince Andrew. UK correspondent Elizabeth Callaghan says this is another 'huge embarrassment' for the royal family - on top of the growing scrutiny. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Companies sharing small numbers of subscription passwords to access paywalled news content may face legal scrutiny. Business website NBR has reached settlements with three major corporates, including a national law firm, for what it calls the 'illegal stealing of its content'. NBR owner Todd Scott says this case is a 'friendly warning shot' for the impacted companies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

Fresh attention on rural areas reeling from last week's severe weather. Southland, Clutha and Kaikoura are still under States of Emergency  - and more than 8,000 properties in Southland and Otago are still without power. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 28 October 2025, Labour has confirmed its worst case secret: a Capital Gains Tax will be brought in if Labour wins the next election. Heather asks Chris Hipkins about all the ins and outs of the new policy. Netball NZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie says it wasn't a mistake to stand Dame Noeline Taurua down - but can't say what cha...

Well, I don't know what's worse for Labour - the fact that they've announced a capital gains tax policy again today, or the fact that someone leaked it and forced them to announce it in a rush. Obviously, it does suck for them that somebody leaked it first, because it means that they were so unprepared that they had to rush-job announce it in an email at 3:05 this morning. And then Chippy had to c...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  It's the worst-kept secret in politics - Labour officially confirmed it wants to introduce a capital gains tax. Do we support this?  More drama out of Te Pāti Māori - where does this end?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Governing parties have been quick to condemn Labour's proposed capital gains tax policy.  The opposition announced the policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes.  It would funnel the revenue into health. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been quick to label this scheme as 'half-baked' - and it'll likely drive the count...

Netball New Zealand boss Jennie Wyllie is looking forward to mending ties with reinstated Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua. The pair have been colleagues since Taurua's appointment to lead New Zealand in 2018. Wyllie says she's pleased the pair were able to reach common ground so Taurua could return to the Silver Ferns. "She's acknowledged that, in a high-performance environment, there is a...

Chris Hipkins is confident Labour's Capital Gains Tax policy can cover three free GP visits every year. The party's announced a policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes.  The revenue would go into health, and creating a Medicard scheme. The Labour leader says they've checked the numbers. "We've done them based on the indepe...

There's some disappointment from a sexual education expert over new Government curriculum changes. Education Minister Erica Stanford has released her draft Year 1-to-10 curriculum for six months feedback from schools and educators.  A key change is making consent education compulsory in health and physical education.  But therapist and parenting educator Jo Robertson says the guidelines...

Labour was forced to reveal its tax policy early, after details were leaked to media over the long weekend.  The party's proposed a 28 percent capital gains tax on all residential and commercial property - but not the family home. It's promising to use the revenue to fund three free GP visits for all Kiwis. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins has voiced frustra...

A Dutch volleyball player convicted in 2016 of raping an underage girl has been denied a visa to Australia to compete in next month’s Beach Volleyball World Championships. Steven van de Velde, now 31, was 19 when he was found guilty of sex with an underage girl. The Dutch Volleyball Association said in a statement that it was 'aware this could happen', given Australia’s strict policy on issuing vi...

Liam Lawson looks set to assist Max Verstappen's Formula 1 championship bid, before learning of his 2026 fate. Keen to focus on the defending champion's campaign - Red Bull have reportedly pushed their driver selection timeline until after the Qatar Grand Prix on December 1. Sportstalk host Adam Cooper explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Auckland councillor has voiced disappointment with recent misinformation concerning the fatal bus collision on Tāmaki Drive. An electric bus suffered a fatal collision with a car last week and the bus driver was killed in the flames. North Shore councillor Richard Hills says it was 'shocking' to see the number of posts criticising the EV buses - even though it was proven electric batteries wer...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 24 October. 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.

Te Pāti Māori's behaviour is once again a topic of discussion following bill burning and allegations of over-spending this week. Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Te Pāti Māori 'shouldn't be anywhere near Government'. Soper identified a possible link between the ongoing party controversies and it's culture of nepotism.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

An NBA player and coach are among dozens of people arrested in an FBI investigation into rigged, mafia-linked poker games. Miami Heat's Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were named as those arrested. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the NBA stars were used as bait to draw players to the table with the rigged game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Prominent colorectal surgeon Frank Frizelle says it is now a necessity for dedicated cancer centres in New Zealand.  The Christchurch-based surgeon believes if New Zealand does not adopt comprehensive cancer centres, the system will fail patients. Frizelle told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "it's just about trying to give adequate volumes and concentrations of resources to try and get the best va...

New Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar has suggested a “situational subsidy” to support regional routes when the economy is not doing well and demand is low. Ravishankar officially took over as CEO on 20 October 2025, replacing Greg Foran who stepped down after six years. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that the implementation of a subsidy could allow for too...

There's growing calls to investigate Prince Andrew’s residence at Royal Lodge, with MPs in the UK expressing clear interest in an inquiry. Keir Starmer has indicated he is open to MPs questioning Andrew in person about his home in Windsor Great Park, where he's lived for over 20 years without paying rent.  UK correspondent Enda Brady explains whether Andrew is likely to agree to this. LISTEN...

'Quality stocks' such as healthcare companies are trading at their cheapest level relative to the market in decades. This is taking place while market concentration is at record levels. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.