Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

France's Government says it won't be dictated by breakers, thieves and thugs, as it moves to put a stop to mass protests. Local police are enforcing overnight curfews in parts of central Paris and other cities, following riots and looting across France. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the protestors reportedly have more planned for next weekend, and French President Emmanuel Macron has copped som...

Over in Australia, unemployment is on the rise and wages haven't kept up with inflation, leaving many to wonder if the trans-Tasman dream is at risk. The Australian unemployment rate has reached 4.7 percent, and one expert has warned the nation is on track to have the largest increase in unemployment in the developed world over the next year.  HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says disposable...

National's shot up while Labour's slipped in the latest 1News-Verian poll, but both sides still need Opportunity to form a coalition. National's up four points to 32 percent, while Labour's fallen one to sit on 27.  The Country's Jamie Mackay examined the results and weighed in on which outcomes would benefit rural voters. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's shock and horror across Australia, after MP Helen Haines was struck by a vehicle and lost a leg in the incident. What do we think of this, how shocked are we? Do we need to start protecting our MPs mo...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 20 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.

All right, we need to talk about a news story that has been written in such a way that you're supposed to be alarmed by the fact that nearly half of all Year 12 students might fail Erica Stanford's NCEA replacement. The story is this - at the moment, 15 percent of Year 12 students fail NCEA Level 2. But modelling suggests that once Erica Stanford replaces NCEA with her new secondary school qualifi...

Auckland businessman Jim Jackson is a big supporter of the National Party, but he's raised concerns over a stalled project. The proposed East West Link has been on hold for over a decade, and Jackson recently put up a billboard condemning Luxon for not getting the project done. He says he's been involved with the development of the expressway for the past 19 years, and he's not happy with the pros...

A security expert says security threats against MPs have risen as anger grows in society. Australian MP Helen Haines is critically wounded and has lost a leg after a vehicle rammed her outside her office, and an anti-logging campaigner is in custody. Massey University defence and security expert, John Battersby, says violence is never acceptable, but events here and around the world are 'rark...

Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has teamed up with comedy icon Te Radar to help raise awareness for prostate cancer. The nationwide campaign, run by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, encourages men to ask for a prostate blood test in order to catch adverse symptoms early. Hansen says it's a 'wonderful cause' and he's happy to lend his name to the campaign.  LISTEN ABOVE...

National's Education Spokesperson is brushing off concerns over previously unseen modelling suggesting the NCEA level two replacement could make pass rates plummet.  Ministry of Education documents released to the PPTA show Year 12 attainment could fall 27 percent under the New Zealand Certificate of Education. Erica Stanford says it's an old paper produced at the beginning of the curriculum...

There's shock and sadness across Australian politics after an attack on an Independent Victoria MP. Helen Haines is still in a critical condition and has lost a leg after a LandCruiser ploughed into her outside her electorate office. A 43-year-old anti-logging campaigner, Brendan Nugent, is in custody.  Close political colleague of Haines, MP Ged Kearney says she's at a loss how someone could...

Labour and National are regaining a little ground in the latest The Post/Freshwater Strategy poll, but both major parties remain well below 30 percent. The poll has Labour up to 28.7 and National up to 27.6, the Greens are unchanged on 14.3, New Zealand First is down to 11.8, ACT is unchanged on 9, and Opportunity is down to 5.4. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins...

There's shock and outrage across Australia, after an MP was struck by a vehicle yesterday. Helen Haines has lost a leg and is still in a critical condition after the attack outside her Victoria electorate office, described by police as 'deliberate'. Reports claim police have 43 year old anti-logging campaigner Brendan Nugent in custody.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson reveals what w...

It's a big week for sports, with many high-profile events set to take place in Christchurch. The Silver Ferns' second Constellation Cup clash, the start of the Black Caps-India series, the Rugby League World Cup double-header and the NPC final are among the big sports events set to take place in the coming days. Sportstalk host Nick Bewley discussed what this all means for Christchurch. LISTEN ABO...

Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium is set to host its first international concerts in two years. British drum and bass duo Chase & Status will headline the venue in early March, in what's being billed as New Zealand's biggest enclosed-stadium electronic event. Dunedin Venues CEO Phil King says the organisation had a good plan to draw in more international acts over to the region.  "It just fe...

Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, Sherson Willis' Trish Sherson and Childfund CEO Josie Pagani have the insight and analysis as the campaign rolls on.  This week on The Front Bench, Heather asks the panel about the potential fallout...

French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for calm and order and warned the ongoing riots must not escalate. Police have arrested over 2000 people over the weekend when more than half a million people took to the streets against rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says looting, arson and property damage have taken place as a resul...

The US share market took a dive in the weekend, and experts have linked it to recent global conflicts and a declining tech market. This has resulted in global markets taking a hit as a result - including New Zealand. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Christchurch's best known boutique movie theatres, Academy Gold Cinema, is officially up for sale. The sale comes after 30 years of family ownership, but the family has recently confirmed that they feel it's time to move on. Business consultant Charlie Loughnan is one of the family members helping to sell the boutique cinema and he says the industry's been hit hard as a result of Covid. "It...

Unbelievably, the Mongrel Mob drama is still rolling on. It's been six days. A video has emerged from the hui at the gang pad in which Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara tells the Mongrel Mob that Te Pāti Māori's policies would reinstate what should have existed all along. Depending on how you interpret that statement and the context of what she had been discussing beforehand, she was either suggesti...

National is open to expanding its proposed ban on the right to silence for child killers, depending on legal advice.  The party's proposing a law change that would send witnesses of child killings to prison for up to 10 years, if they don't reveal who was responsible.  National's Nicola Willis has voiced support for this policy and says it's 'unlikely' this will result in false testimoni...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 19 October, 2026, Te Ururoa Flavell tells us what he thinks about restoring the mana of the Mongrel Mob. Is it the scandal of this election? On The Front Bench, Josie Pagani, Barry Soper and Trish Sherson discuss the Greens and Te Pati Maori candidates taking photos with gangs. Nicola Willis' whopping water bill. And the bid to se...

New data from NSW Health shows there's an increase in hospitalisations because of unregulated peptides, and it's prompted concerns among experts. Peptides have seen a boost in popularity thanks to social media, with many people turning to them to boost muscle mass and reduce the impact of aging. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says people are reporting liver and kidney damage, as well as...

Labour's Technology spokesperson says the party could get a social media ban for under-16s legislated in one year.  It's promising to progress the ban to select committee stage within its first 100 days of Government, if elected, alongside new law on digital duty of care. Reuben Davidson says National's not done it in a thousand days - but Labour will give it priority. "There's nothing to sto...

New Zealand head to Christchurch with a 1-nil Constellation Cup netball series lead over Australia after a 56-50 win in Auckland. Silver Ferns coach Dame Noelene Taurua felt her side let an advantage slip, given they were unable to extend their 10-goal half-time lead. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked the action further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.