Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

I reckon we shouldn't panic too much on behalf of those three New Zealand citizens who've been intercepted by the Israeli military and the flotilla. Obviously, we want international law to be followed, but it's pretty clear that these guys knew what they were getting themselves into and did it anyway. I mean, they are absolutely milking this for all that it's worth with the social media posts clai...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 2 October 2025, three New Zealand citizens have been arrested by the Israeli Defence Force because they were on a protest flotilla headed for Gaza . One of them is 18-year old Samuel Leason, his dad speaks to Heather.   The Warehouse chief executive Mark Stirton tells Heather why the company is struggling to turn a corner....

Wool prices have seen a significant rise this week, and there's a few key factors behind this development. Currently, wool prices are on the longest rise since 1987 - and while these prices are mostly benefitting Australian farmers, there's hope Kiwis could benefit from this demand too. The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A much-revamped All Blacks line-up will confront Australia in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia. Injuries account for four of the seven changes to the run-on side. Captain Scott Barrett returns at lock, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell start as props and Peter Lakai has his first test start, at number eight. In the backs, Quinn Tupaea dons the 13 jersey and Leicester Faing...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Toitū Te Tiriti, the activist group behind the hikoi on Parliament last year officially cut ties with Te Pāti Māori today. What does this mean for Te Pāti Māori's political future - or Labour's? Should we be assisting the Kiwis who g...

Questions have been raised over ructions within Te Pāti Māori. Toitū Te Tiriti - which led the large hikoi on Parliament last year - officially cut ties with the party today.  Leader Eru Kapa-Kingi is the son of one of the party's MPs, and he claims the party follows a 'dictatorship model'. Former Labour MP Meka Whaitiri ran for Te Pāti Māori in the last election. She says this news is disapp...

Conservationist Dame Jane Goodall, who was credited with revolutionising the world's understanding of chimpanzees, has died at the age of 91. She died of natural causes while on on a speaking tour in California. In her later life, Goodall was almost always travelling the world, delivering speeches about the importance of protecting the environment. Wellington Zoo CEO Karen Fifield says her researc...

The father of a New Zealander reportedly detained from a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israel says he spoke to his son last night. Eighteen year old Samuel Leason posted a video online - pre-recorded in case of emergency. His father, A.D Leason, says Samuel described a submarine circling the flotilla, and a blockade of military vessels ahead. "We were comforted by the fact that the Israeli De...

The Warehouse Group's chief executive is confident he can turn the retail giant around.  It's reporting an annual net loss of $2.76 million dollars - a major improvement from last year's $54.2 million dollar loss. Noel Leeming is performing the best, with revenue up 3.3 percent. Chief executive Mark Stirton says they're moving away from a digital focus to give more attention to shoppers in-st...

Change is afoot at Te Pāti Māori - as a prominent activist group has severed ties with the party. Toitū Te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi claims the Party has a dictatorship decision-making model. His mother, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, was recently demoted as the Party whip. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the saga further - and what the loss means for Te Pāti Māori'...

Lawyers for mushroom murderer Erin Patterson plan to appeal her guilty verdicts. The 50-year-old has a life sentence with 33 years non-parole period for killing three relatives with a beef wellington lunch laced with poisonous deathcap mushrooms in 2023. Patterson's barrister made the appeal announcement today. Australian correspondent Murray Olds Patterson's got a new legal team to help move the...

Tim Robinson has capitalised on Rachin Ravindra's injury-enforced absence to post his maiden T20 international cricket century in New Zealand's opening six-wicket Chappell-Hadlee series loss to Australia at Mount Maunganui. The visitors chased the 182-run target with 21 balls to spare. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recapped the action further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

There's concerns tramadol could be getting over-prescribed, with more patients being given the painkiller. Pharmac data shows more than 270,000 people were prescribed the drug last year - an increase of 14 percent since 2019. UOA School of Pharmacy lecturer Dr Jay Gong says healthcare providers likely prefer prescribing tramadol over stronger painkillers. "There might be some perceived ideas...

Denmark will ban all civilian drone flights across the country over the coming days to ensure security as Copenhagen prepares to host a European Union summit. Mysterious drone sightings across Denmark since September 22 have prompted the closure of several airports, with Denmark hinting at possible Russian involvement, though Moscow denies the charge. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says people caught...

A property mogul developing some of Wellington’s most infamous quake-prone sites has voiced support for recent Government changes, but says these won't slow down his large-scale projects. Eyal Aharoni is currently working on reopening the long-closed Reading Cinema complex on Courtenay Place and the nearby Amora Hotel, which closed in 2019 and 2017 respectively because of earthquake damage. Earlie...

The Government recently unveiled its highly-anticipated energy sector announcement and it's prompted good news for the energy companies. The share price for New Zealand's major gentailers raised on the NZX, with Meridian seeing a 5 percent increase. Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were looking forward to today to learn how the Government would rescue the country from the energy crisis we face, you are already disappointed by now because you've looked at it and you've seen there's nothing here. There is nothing here that is going to stop us going through what we are going through right now. For months and months every winter for the last two winters we've seen the clo...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 1 October 2025, the Energy Minister gets a grilling from Heather over the Government's long-awaited energy plan. But both Consumer NZ and the Employers and Manufacturers Association say the changes won't make power prices any cheaper or save local industries. Sad news with the passing of Nigel Latta from cancer. His friend Nic...

The Government finally unveiled its plan to address issues impacting the energy sector, and it's prompted a mixed response. The country's largest power companies have responded positively, and their shares have jumped on the NZX as a result. Meanwhile, consumers and other businesses have voiced concerns this doesn't address the status quo. Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy has criticised this announcement...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR 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!  The Government finally unveiled its energy reform plan after plenty of anticipation. What did we make of it? Does it go far enough? Nigel Latta has passed away - what will we remember about him? LISTEN AB...

Nigel Latta's being remembered for his sage parenting advice. The clinical psychologist, author and broadcaster died yesterday - aged 58 - after being diagnosed with stomach cancer a year ago. He's survived by his wife Natalie Flynn and five children and stepchildren. Friend Nic Russell says says his parenting books have had a wide ranging impact. "I definitely think a whole generation of Kiwis ha...

ACT says Auckland University should pay back thousands of students who did compulsory Treaty of Waitangi and Te Ao Māori courses. The university's senate has now recommended making the courses optional - after criticism from staff, students and politicians. ACT's Parmjeet Parmar, says more than 8,000 students had to take the course this year. "They had to push some papers out, papers that they rea...

The Government's opted against a significant energy shake-up - rejecting calls to re-nationalise or split up the big gentailers.  Instead, it'll offer the Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects. Energy Minister Simon Watts explained the changes further here today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Government cash for the three Crown-controlled gentailers. That's the biggest change to come from today's energy announcement - alongside plans for a new LNG import facility.  Energy Minister Simon Watts says a report concluded sector players weren't confident they could ask the Government for money to fund new generation projects.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry S...

A congressional deadlock's shut down the US Government.  Congress failed to pass last-ditch attempts to extend federal funding failed, with Democrats and Republicans refusing to vote through each other's bills. The deadline's now passed - meaning the Government must strip back to essential services, and most federal workers won't be paid. President Trump's threatened major cuts. US correspond...