Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's real concern from a former Green MP over how openly people talk about committing violence. 

A new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll shows one in four Te Pāti Māori voters and one in five ACT voters agree Kiwis may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track. 

The younger generation are more likely to agree, and they're less likely to have friends with differing political views. 

Catherine Delahunty ...

New Zealanders who are dying, or caring for someone who's on their deathbed, have been leaving reviews rating their experience with death in Aotearoa. 

In a new initiative led by Hospice NZ, Dying Reviews invites people who've had experience with death to reflect how they were treated by the everyday systems that surround us.

New Zealand's national score is 3.28 out of 5, and Government agencies received the lowest ratings of ...

There's suggestions of a deep divide within Te Pāti Māori.

The Party's released documents to members alleging former vice president Eru Kapa-Kingi threatened parliamentary staff and made inappropriate remarks. 

He's the son of recently demoted Party Whip, MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. 

Papers also showed Parliamentary Services were concerned she risked overspending her office budget. 

Political commentator Bryce Edwards s...

There's signs peace could persist in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump declares the war over.

Hamas has released the 20 living Israeli hostages - and almost 2000 Palestinians have been returned by Israel.

Leaders including Donald Trump have signed the US-brokered peace deal, at a summit in Egypt.

Middle East analyst Rodger Shanahan says after two years, there's a sense of exhaustion from Israel and Hamas.

"Both sides really want t...

Parliament's Speaker will meet MPs across the House today, as he cracks down on behaviour. 

Gerry Brownlee's spoken about Te Pati Māori's newest MP,  Oriini Kaipara, going over-time in her maiden speech on Thursday, and joining a haka that started in the public gallery. 

He now says he'll convene Parliament's Business Committee to discuss dress standards, attendance records, leave, and the allocation of questions.&nb...

The mobile numbers of Anthony Albanese, Sussan Ley and other prominent Australians were recently released to the public on a free website.

The US-based website sells itself on having the mobile numbers and emails of millions of professionals, and investigations are ongoing into the platform.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says other world leaders reportedly have their contact information on the website, including US President...

Another blow for Netball New Zealand in the wake of their unresolved coaching saga with Dame Noeline Taurua.

Silver Ferns selector Gail Parata has resigned after becoming frustrated at the way the governing body has treated the World Cup-winning mentor - and claimed Taurua hadn't been properly protected.

Parata said that many in the coaching community beyond netball have been left disheartened and disillusioned.

Sportstalk host D'A...

Changes to lending restrictions are on the cards.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is welcoming the Reserve Bank consulting with banks on easing loan to value restrictions from December.

The central bank's looking at increasing the new lending limit for first-home buyers and property investors.

Banking Association CEO Roger Beaumont says this is really good - and will give first-home buyers more flexibility.

"They're taking advantage...

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Richard Hills and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day!

The local body elections wrapped up over the weekend and turnout has been labelled 'abysmal'. Does the system need to be changed to encourage more people to vote?

The latest numbers show structured literacy seems to be making a huge difference to our youngest readers. Are...

Listen, I am more and more convinced that we need to cut the number of councils we have across the country. I mean, that voter turnout that we've seen at the weekend was abysmal.

Last count I've seen is that nationally, only 38 percent of us voted. It's worse in Auckland, where only around 29 percent -  so not even 1 in 3 of us - voted.

Now, I think anyone who thinks that we can fix local Government by ditching the postal...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 13 October 2025, the last of the Israeli hostages are being released today in a momentous day for Gaza. Israel correspondent Alexander Cornwell speaks to Heather ahead of Donald Trump's arrival to Jerusalem.

The Education Minister says "I told you so!" after literacy stats show the structured literacy approach she mandated across the country is already lifting read...

Participation in local elections is at a historic low and there's growing calls for reform.

Turnout's been higher in rural areas and much lower in the main cities, but data shows under 40 percent of eligible voters made their voices heard.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a simpler solution is needed, much like the general elections.

"It might be simpler if it was just - turn up and vote. Turn up to the booth, turn up to the pla...

Hamas is expected to start releasing Israeli hostages now.

It's handing over 20 hostages over the next two hours - followed by Israel handing over nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. 

The US president is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv very soon, and claims the war is over in Gaza and the ceasefire will hold.

Reuters correspondent Alexander Cornwell says people could start arriving very soon - and that the Red Cros...

There's disappointment from some after a majority of Māori wards are set to go. 

17 councils have voted to keep them, and 25 have voted to remove them

Whakatane Māori Ward councillor Toni Boynton says those referendums should never have been held.

She says this choice should be up to councils.

"If they're elected by their constituents, that's democracy, right? And they're elected to be able to make those decisions and that dec...

There's confidence New Zealand schools are turning a corner on literacy skills.

The Education Minister says data shows 58 percent of new entrant students are at-or-above phonics expectations after 20 weeks at school - up from 36 percent in Term One.

The number exceeding expectations is more than double Term One's figure.

Erica Stanford says she wants 90 percent of kids to achieve curriculum level.

"As teachers become more confident...

The IRD is set to be cracking down harder on those who don't pay their taxes properly, and they've unveiled new measures for people who ignore correspondence.

The department will start taking money out of people's bank accounts if they owe over a certain amount - and they've recovered at least $17 million so far.

The IRD's Tony Morris says they aim to phone people at least twice before they start directly taking money out of accoun...