Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Running phenom Sam Ruthe set another middle distance record - and there's belief it could go deeper than good genetics.

The 16-year-old broke Sir John Walker's overall national mile mark set at Oslo in 1982 at an indoor meet in Boston.

Ruthe's grandfather, Trevor Wright, is also a skilled runner, but he says genetics only contribute to a small part of the teen's success.

"I put it down to dedication, talent and a good coach and a g...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 30 January, 2026, police say they're drawing a line on protests across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

A Westport life-time resident and real estate agent tells us about the struggle to get house insurance.

Why a company that sells dung beetles to clean up water on farms is in trouble.

And on the Sports Huddle, Paul Allison and Darcy Waldegrave discuss if it's a done ...

Now, listen — I think it’s a little early in the year to be making too many predictions about election year. But having said that, I do think there is a very strong chance that Winston Peters might be the story of the year.

If he carries on the way he is in the polls, he could well be in the double digits — well into the double digits — by the time November’s election rolls around. He’s already sitting somewhere between 10 and 12 p...

The stench emitting from a faulty wastewater treatment plant in Christchurch has gotten worse in recent weeks. 

The smell, nicknamed, 'The Big Stink,' has been affecting Bromley for nearly 4 years, resulting in locals having to check wind direction before socialising outside or hanging washing. 

Community Advocate Stephen McPaike told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'It's just as bad as what happened when the fire happened...

Tough times in the dung beetle business have prompted a call for a dump of funding from the  Government.

Dung Beetle Innovations was launched in 2014 in Auckland's Whenuapai. 

Co-Founder Shaun Forgie says the dung beetles can be used to clear manure from farms, preventing it from sliding into rivers. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that his sector receiving funding will benefit others. 
 
Forgie say...

An international relations expert says it would've been hypocritical for New Zealand to sit on Donald Trump's peace board.  

The  Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announced this morning that New Zealand won't be accepting Trump's invitation to join the board. 

The denial comes days after the Government signalled it was considering the offer. 

Otago University Professor Robert Patman told Heather du Plessis-Al...

Brian Tamaki says he is still planning to protest by walking across Auckland's harbour Bridge tomorrow despite a police promise to stop it.

He's urging crowds to meet him at Victoria Park in the central city tomorrow for a protest in opposition to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Police Superintendent Naila Hassan told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the police are unsure if the march will actually go ahead, but that doesn't mean they are ...

According to Westport residents the AA insurance announcement yesterday is not the start of their troubles at all.

They've been having trouble with insurance for ages even before AA decided to stop issuing new cover.

Westport resident Glenys Elley told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, "Even if a company has a policy, it doesn't guarantee that they will continue that policy on."

She says that some people were fine with the application...

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Winston Peters has raised concerns with the Government's new trade agreement with India, and he's claimed the agreement will see more migrants taking jobs off Kiwis. What do we make of this? 

AA Insurance has paused new policies in the West Coast town of Westpor...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 29 January, 2026, a major insurer's put a halt on new home policies in Westport because of the flood risk - is it temporary or permanent?

Why your morning school run is the most dangerous time of the day on the roads.

We talk to investor and influencer Simon Squibb about making Kiwis' dreams come true - and learn about the Pink Broccoli.

Plus, on the Huddle, Thom...

Simon Squibb has always been committed to encouraging people to fulfil their dreams, and as a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, he's in a position to make real change. 

He's invested in startups, used his professional insight to write a book - What’s Your Dream? Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life - and he's committed to inspiring people to take risks.

Squibb's in New Zealand and he's already been spotted...

The thing we’d been warned about with climate change has now happened - AA Insurance has stopped offering new insurance policies for Westport because of the risk of flooding.

At the very end of last year, AA Insurance wrote to the Buller District mayor advising that the company would be putting a - what they call temporary - stop to new insurance policies for properties in the 7825 postcode, which includes Westport, Carters Beach, ...

Winston Peters claims our proposed trade agreement with India would let visa holders bring family members with them. 

The Trade Minister denies the FTA could allow 20,000 to 25,000 more immigrant arrivals.

Peters says Todd McClay admitted the loophole himself to a select committee.  

"He had to concede that there were those people who had the right to bring their spouses and their children right away."

In the hearing, McC...

Forty-four titles have been announced for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards longlist, with true crime and politics among the big name nominees.

Nine debut authors appear in the list, three in each of the poetry, illustrated non-fiction and general non-fiction categories, including the Jacinda Ardern memoir A Different Kind of Power.

Time Out Bookstore manager Jenna Todd says it's unclear if Ardern will emerge victorious, as general ...

The Transport Minister says discussions must be had on roads that keep flooding during extreme weather events.

Chris Bishop and the Prime Minister have been surveying damage in Te Tairāwhiti, and visiting still isolated communities.

Bishop says the focus now is reopening routes.

But he says NZTA and contractors need to discuss how to future-proof these crucial routes. 

"They'll be having a really good look at the Waioeka Gorge...

A warning more insurance companies could follow AA Insurance, which has paused signing up new new policies in the West Coast's Westport.

Buller District Council says the insurer has confirmed it’s temporarily halting new property policies because of the high flood-risk.

Existing policyholders can renew as usual.

Victoria University Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston says he can almost guarantee it won't be a one-off.

"We are in a p...