Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Senior political reporter Azaria Howell joins Andrew Dickens to review the week in politics. 

PM Chris Luxon has survived a second challenge to his leadership this year. A failed coup ended with a caucus vote that ruled in the Prime Minister's favour, and saw the sacking of former Defence Minister Chris Penk.

And Opportunity could be the kingmakers in this election as some polls predict the newcomers will get as high as 8% of ...

A number of people appear to be dodging their civic duty.

The Spinoff reports about a third of people summoned for jury service last year didn't respond to their summons or turn up to court.

It's the highest rate recorded in the past five years.

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that those people would want someone to step up for them if they were accused of a crime.

She says it's incredibly important to show up ...

A former police investigator says officers are fully justified for shooting dead an armed person, whether it's an imitation weapon or not. 

A man was killed yesterday - after he carried a stolen air rifle into Auckland's Sylvia Park Shopping Centre. 

Lance Burdett says the officer who killed him would've been acting on their training. 

He told Andrew Dickens the fact the man had taken the weapon out of the car signal...

Could a gondola in Queenstown ease traffic woes?

That's the multi-million dollar question - as National pledges to support public transit initiatives to reduce congestion if re-elected.

It includes looking at a gondola to connect the airport with the town centre - paid for by the National Land Transport fund made up of fuel taxes and road user charges.

Queenstown Mayor John Glover told Andrew Dickens that congestion is an urgent is...

So it's the story that swamped the country this week. And since I have not been on the radio really until today, this is my first, but also my last word about it.  

Despite Christopher Luxon's win, there is obviously a significant part of his team that have little confidence in him. It's strongest amongst the backbenchers who can see their list seats evaporating, but it's also present in the front bench no matter what they say...

An education professor has taken issue with the new curriculum. 

The new curriculum for years 0-10 for science and social sciences has dropped all mention of climate change, which was part of the earlier drafts. 

Waikato University Education Professor Chris Eames told Andrew Dickens that it's an important topic of conversation, as it's a growing problem. 

'We cannot be sure that we're providing the opportunities for ...

Voters in eastern England are headed to the polls today for a byelection triggered by hard-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage - and he's facing off against a unique rival.         

The traditional parties have shunned the contest for the Clacton parliamentary seat, meaning joke candidate Count Binface count score a significant percentage of the vote, according to a Survation poll. 

UK correspondent En...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 13 August, 2026, Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong tells us when she'll reveal her bottom lines in any possible coalition negotiations.

On The Huddle, Liam Hehir and Katie Bradford on whether Christopher Luxon was right to rule out Opportunity as a coalition partner.

Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray on how he hopes to attract more cruise ships.

And former...

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer  Liam Hehir and senior New Zealand Herald correspondent Katie Bradford joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

The Opportunity Party has surged well above the 5 percent threshold, potentially giving it a decisive role in forming the next Government. Was Luxon wrong to rule them out? What could the next couple of months look like? 

Is it wrong to be angry wi...

New Zealand's cruise industry is in decline, with nationwide visits down 40 percent - and no hope of improvement forecast for the 2026/27 season.

Auckland’s Shed 10 played host to the annual New Zealand Cruise Convention, where industry experts are hoping to turn those numbers around for a late-decade recovery.

Meanwhile, Auckland Council’s economic development arm has pitched plans to boost high-value cruise visitors.

...

The Opportunity Party confesses its tax and welfare reform plans wouldn't happen in one term as an avenue emerges for it to join a right-bloc Government. 

The latest 1 News-Verian poll shows neither side could form a Government without Opportunity.

National's Christopher Luxon has ruled out the idea. 

But ACT leader David Seymour says he's open to it, if Opportunity drops its universal basic income and land tax policy.&nb...

Richie Mo'unga is being parachuted into the All Blacks on their South African Greatest Rivalry Tour.

The 32-year Canterbury first-five will replace injured midfielder Billy Proctor, flying to Johannesburg today.

Former All Black Todd Blackadder has voiced support for this decision - and says it will please everybody, especially Richie Mo'unga.

"It's a great call for Richie, and there's been a lot of people beating the drums about h...

A group of Gloriavale leavers want damages, as the Employment Court declares the Labour Inspectorate wrong for not considering children during investigations.

The court says children working at the West Coast religious sect were effectively excluded without reason, from inquiries which led to some 'volunteers' being legally defined as employees. 

Nine leavers now want compensation and declarations of slavery and servitude.&nbs...

Louise Upston says she never intended for her Disability Support Services Bill to hurt the community. 

The Disability Issues Minister says the legislation's been clarified after consultation - including around the role of family and the state in a disabled person's care.

She says families will continue to receive Government support, with no additional expectations. 

Upston says the bill won't make changes to existing enti...

You know what? I thought the Prime Minister was right to rule out working with Opportunity, until that One News-Verian poll. Now, I think he might have made a mistake.

I'm not 100 percent sure, but I'm starting to lean towards this being an error.

If you didn't catch the poll, the screaming message from it was that nobody gets to govern unless they have Opportunity. The centre-right bloc has a combined total of 57 seats. That's not...

Christopher Luxon doesn't believe voters will punish his party in the polls after he survived another confidence vote.

Chris Penk has been sacked from Cabinet after Luxon claimed he was behind yesterday's leadership challenge.

Penk's since announced he won't seek re-election in November.

Senior Ministers Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford deny involvement in the coup attempt, and are pledging support to Luxon.

Newstalk ZB reporter Aza...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing pressure to apologise to his Japanese counterpart after a gesture he made about two melons she gifted him.

Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep podcast with Nikki Osborne and gestured to his chest when recalling the melons after Osborne asked how the fruit had been smuggled into the country.

Former Australian ambassador Shingo Yamagami recalled the incident earlier today and labell...