Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.
Episodes
Tonight on The Huddle, Morris Williamson, Auckland councillor and former National Party minister, and Jack Tame, host of Saturday mornings and Q&A, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Nicola Willis announced a surprise inquiry into the Reserve Bank's actions during Covid with questions arising over the timing.
And, Winston Peters visits Saudi Arabia and sits ringside at Joseph...
Tell you what—I'm not feeling terribly hopeful about the situation for vulnerable kids in this country after reading the coroner’s recommendations following the death of Malachi Subecz.
You’ll remember the case of Malachi. I’m not going to go through the details again; sufficient to say it happened about four and a half, nearly five years ago, and it fired up public anger because of the number of times his wider family tried to war...
A memoir has been written by shamed business titan Ron Brierley who was imprisoned and lost his knighthood after his conviction for possession of child sex abuse material in 2021.
The book, titled The History of Brierley Investments Ltd - Not As Boring As You Think, is being published by Henry Newrick.
Newrick defended his decision to publish the book saying, "he's perfectly entitled, anybody's entitled to, write about w...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 11 February, 2026, Nicola Willis tells us why the Government's now decided to do an inquiry into Reserve Bank actions during Covid-19.
We ask the Safeguarding Children chief executive if an abuse awareness campaign is likely to be effective in the wake of the murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz.
The publisher of a new book on Ron Brierley explains why he thin...
An independent external review of the Teaching Council was carried out by consultant Debbie Francis late last year.
It has found that the agency has lost focus on its core function of safeguarding children and needs transformative change.
CEO Lesley Hoskin is on agreed leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation into her conduct.
The report identified multiple issues in the operations of the council.
Education ministe...
Malachi Rain Subecz was 5 years old when he was murdered by his caregiver, Michaela Barriball, who is now serving a life sentence with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
Coroner Janet Anderson has now made several recommendations including the development and implementation of an awareness campaign to encourage the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse.
Safeguarding Children CEO Willow Duffy told Heather...
US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about today's biggest news in the USA.
Congress is seeing a mass exodus with 51 House members and nine Read more
Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced a surprise inquiry into the actions of the Reserve Bank during the Covid-19 pandemic with a stated purpose to identify any lessons that could be learned to improve the monetary policy response to future major events.
Adrian Orr was the Reserve Bank governor from 2018 until his resignation last year.
Former Reserve Bank governor Michael Reddell welcomes the inquiry but believes the acti...
The Prime Minister of the UK is fighting for political survival - after fallout over his appointing a controversial Ambassador to the US.
Peter Mandelson's been sacked after his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light, but it's thrown Keir Starmer's leadership into uncertainty.
UK correspondent Enda Brady revealed what this news could mean for Starmer's political future, or what this could mean for ...
Kiwi shearer Rowland Smith has advanced to one of the nation's biggest competitions.
He just made the Shearing Sports New Zealand team for the 2026 Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
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The Anti-Corruption Taskforce's first report suggests public sector fraud is almost certainly under-reported.
It analysed six agencies - including Corrections, Inland Revenue and Sport New Zealand.
The Serious Fraud Office-led taskforce found 446 suspected cases of internal fraud or corruption, over 15 months.
Transparency International NZ executive director Julie Haggie says this is a 'significant' report highlighting many i...
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!
The Government is imposing a levy to help pay for an import liquefied natural gas facility, which it says will save households $50 a year on power bills. Do we think the 'extra tax' accusations are fair? What will Labour do with this?
Trade Minister Todd M...
Look, I hate to say it, but it’s starting to sound like Winston Peters was right about that India Free Trade Agreement, and that the Government is not being straight up with us about what’s in the document.
It appears the agreement does stop us from being able to cap the number of Indian students who come here. Now, that’s not the end of the world, given there actually isn’t a cap on them at the moment - or, frankly, on students of...
The Energy Minister is clearing up some misconceptions after yesterday's newly announced LNG import facility sparked backlash.
The Government yesterday announced plans for the storage site in order to maintain energy supply, and a levy will be used to fund infrastructure costs.
Simon Watts says the Huntly Power Station isn't cutting it anymore and New Zealand needs more gas.
"We need gas and we need those molecules, and that's the ...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 10 February, 2026, Todd McClay on the student controversy surrounding the India free trade agreement.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith on why a retail crime advisory group's been disbanded months earlier than intended.
We hear about plans for a gold mining operation in the West Coast town of Reefton.
And on The Huddle, Jordan Williams and Ali Jones try to make sens...
A potential insurance policy for those who can't move away from gas for energy, as the Government charges ahead with its plans for an importing facility.
The terminal will be housed in Taranaki - with the Government aiming to have a build contract locked down mid-year.
It's imposing a levy to help pay for an import liquefied natural gas facility, which it says will save households $50 a year on power bills.
Mercury Chief Exec...
Two of Wellington’s major foodie events are among those receiving fresh support from the Government’s Major Events and Tourism Package.
The funding round covers events across sports, food, culture and innovation.
Wellington On a Plate and Beervana are set for a boost - alongside Tauranga’s AIMS Games, Nelson’s arts festival and New Plymouth’s Winter Fest.
Wellington Culinary Events Trust general manager Penny de Borst says the fund...
A small West Coast town might be about to strike gold again.
Canadian mining company Rua Gold has discovered a 2.5 kilometre stretch of gold and other minerals at Auld Creek near Reefton - with plans announced to fast-track an underground mine.
The company aims to produce 60,000 ounces of gold annually by 2028.
Vice-president Simon Delander says they're also going after the antimony.
He explained that's a strategic mineral - and th...
The Trade Minister's hitting back at suggestions the India Free Trade Agreement will lead to a flood of immigration.
Foreign Minster Winston Peters has said the agreement won't let us specifically cap Indian student visas, among other commentary on the deal.
Todd McClay's confirmed that's the case but says they can cap student visas from all countries - as long as India isn't specifically discriminated against.
"Others are saying i...
The Justice Minister says his retail crime advisory group has been successful and productive.
It'll been cut short, ending in May - not the planned September - after three members resigned last month.
It leaves just two members, chair and dairy owner Sunny Kaushal and liquor retailer, Ash Parmar.
Paul Goldsmith says he could have appointed more people for the next six months or wrapped it up early.
"The simpler thing to...
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