Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

MetService says the strong winds that battered the South Island and lower North are now easing - but there are still a few things to keep an eye on. Red wind warnings have lifted for Canterbury, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha, Wellington and Wairarapa. Widespread power outages remain across Canterbury, Wairarapa, Manawatu-Whanganui, Marlborough and Southland, where some repairs could take more...

More and more businesses are rolling back sustainability initiatives and DEI requirements, but one expert says it still pays to be progressive. The Net Zero Banking Alliance has shut down, Nestle has pulled out of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and the Government recently loosened climate reporting requirements for companies. Despite this, former Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer Michael K...

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer and political commentator Liam Hehir and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The big mega-strike took place today - what have we seen? How do we think they went? Given protesters weren't able to march on Parliament, is the political sting missing? Marama Davidson's Right to Repair Bill was scrapped last nig...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 October 2025, teacher union negotiator Liam Rutherford disagrees with Heather's notion that the strikes were a bit of a fizzer. Ozempic is fast becoming somewhat of a super drug - with new research linking the weight loss drug to a 20% drop of heart attacks and strokes even in people who weren't overweight. Waikato University...

I have to be honest with you, because it's been a little while since I sat in the home economics class in Tuakau College - so there is a fair chance that my experience is a little out of date by about 20 years and I might just make a fool of myself with what I'm about to say next. But I do not understand the angst about Erica Stanford dropping home economics from the NCEA curriculum. There is an o...

US forces have struck another vessel alleged to be carrying drugs, this time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Reports claim two on board the vessel were killed and no US forces were harmed.  Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie has voiced concerns over this incident - and claimed everyone deserves the right to a fair trial. "The process that he's doing is wrong, everyone has a rig...

Kiwis will be able to buy a share in a house for as little as $100 with a new investment platform launched today that promises to break down the barriers to home ownership. Housies will allow investors to buy shares in a house and receive returns from rental income or long-term capital growth. Co-founder James Jordan says this will allow people to easily get access to a home if they invest enough....

A disproportionate number of children in state care face harm when returned home. Oranga Tamariki's annual report shows an overall increase in abuse or neglect in state care, with 530 children experiencing harm in the year ending March. That's 23 up on the previous year. Independent children's monitor, Arran Jones, says about half of children return in an unplanned way. "You've got voices of paren...

Both sides of an education pay dispute claim they were always open to negotiations.  The mega-strike is winding down after some 100,000 health workers, teachers, and public sector staff walked off the job.  Education Minister Erica Stanford says it's disappointing - considering the Government's been willing to keep the issue at the bargaining table.  NZEI's Liam Rutherford says so h...

Memories were shared of Jim Bolger as a devout Catholic, masterful farmer, family man and exceptional leader.  Colleagues and family shared remembrances of the former Prime Minister, as he was laid to rest in Kapiti today.  Former Prime Ministers, Governor-Generals, iwi leaders and the Māori Queen attended the funeral at Bolger's local parish. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent B...

Over in Australia, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has walked back hear earlier comments calling for Kevin Rudd to resign as US ambassador. Ley earlier suggested Rudd leave the role after US President Donald Trump criticised him during a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained the situation further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland will finish up in the role when his current contract concludes at the end of the 2025 season.  Holland confirmed his decision to All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson after the second Bledisloe Cup test match earlier this month. The players were informed today on the first day of camp ahead of tomorrow's departure for the Northern Tour.  Sportstal...

New research has confirmed Ozempic reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 20 percent - even in patients who weren't severely overweight to start with.  The study, which was led by University College London and published in The Lancet, found that weight loss accounted for only one third of this reduction. Auckland University molecular medicine professor Peter Shepherd says this is pr...

Prince Andrew’s future at Royal Lodge is in doubt after the collapse of a business deal that was intended to provide a financial lifeline. The deal would have allowed the prince to abide by the terms of his lease, by paying for the hugely expensive upkeep of the vast Windsor estate. Without it, he could face eviction from the 30-room property, on which he has not paid rent for 20 years. UK corresp...

The Government is more than halving the number of entities that need to make climate-related disclosures. It has proposed to only require listed issuers with market capitalisations of more than $1 billion to make disclosures. Currently, the threshold is $60 million. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the changes further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

More financial experts have raised concerns about an AI bubble - and what it could mean for the wider economy. Multiple AI companies are attracting the attention of investors, and this interest is projected to grow, but concerns have been raised. Milford Asset Management Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union 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! Is the Government right to get rid of its climate disclosure rules for listed companies? Did anybody actually care? Tomorrow's mega-strike is set to begin. Polls indicate over half of Kiwis support the str...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche airs his frustrations ahead of tomorrow's mega strike. Immunisation expert Dr Nikki Turner explains why there are concerns that measles is spreading undetected - and it's not just kids at risk. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace explains when you should consider switchi...

There's yet another, frankly welcome, sign that the world's climate overhype may be over, or at least correcting. The latest is that the Government has announced it's now easing the rules on how much compulsory climate reporting the big listed companies have to do. Now, I don't blame you if you feel at this minute like your eyes are about to glaze over, but do not let that happen. Because this is...

Air New Zealand says it now expects to make a first-half loss of about $30 million to $55 million, before tax. It's just provided a trading update to the NZX. The national carrier says it expected a two to three percent uplift in revenue across domestic and US-bound bookings. However, this hasn't materialised and isn't evidenced in future bookings. NZ Shareholders Association head Oliver Mander sa...

A fund manager says Kiwis deserve to know the impact of their investments.  The Government plans to scrap annual climate disclosures for KiwiSaver funds, and raise the reporting threshold for listed companies from $60 million dollars to $1 billion. Mindful Money founder Barry Coates says these rule changes will reduce transparency.  "We're stepping backwards on what should be information...

A Kiwi company is investing in drone boats able to be used for defence - on home shores and beyond. Robotics company Syos has acquired Tauranga business Bay Dynamics.  Syos CEO Sam Vye says it will strengthen their position in the surveillance and defence market.  He adds underwater sabotage is a growing concern overseas.  "Particularly in the EU around potential sabotage by hostile...

There's growing worries measles is spreading undetected through the country. Three new cases in Manawatu and Nelson were announced yesterday, bringing the total of current infections to four. Health New Zealand hasn't been able to confirm how each became infected - and is warning of a potential national outbreak. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director, Dr Nikki Turner, says four cases might...

The Public Service Commissioner is suggesting unions are striking to get it out of their system.  At least 100,000 workers in health, education and public service are walking off the job tomorrow, protesting pay and conditions.  Some picketing's moving indoors and some rallies cancelled in Wellington and Canterbury - with extreme bad weather looming.   Commissioner Sir Brian Roche s...

The Public Service Commissioner's again sounding a negative note over New Zealand's major health and education strike tomorrow. About 100,000 union members across various sectors will stop work across the day - expressing frustration over pay and working conditions. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is expected to be the biggest strike in New Zealand's history since...