Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

Chris Hipkins' ex-wife posted a series of allegations about the former Prime Minister on Facebook, and Hipkins denied the allegations in a media conference earlier today. Is this even our business? 

New Stats NZ figures show food prices rose 4.5 per...

We need to talk about inflation, because inflation is making me pretty sure now that the National Party needs to rethink its plan for this election.

We’ve just had the food inflation data out today. No surprise - food has gone up in price again in the year to February, up 4.5 percent.

The biggest increase in a single item was mince. It went up 23.2 percent. That is the highest recorded jump in mince in two decades.

Mince is a reaso...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 17 March, 2026, food prices are up - and a Kiwi staple, mince, is leading the way. We ask Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen if it's going to get worse.

We'll tell you about a new ratings system for schools.

An economist on why more of us should be working from home right now.

And on The Huddle, we ask Jordan Williams and Gareth Hughes if the private lives of ...

The Resources Minister is insistent Crown funds should help heat the geothermal sector.

A Government strategy has been released on its plan to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040.

It's also ring fenced $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the development of geothermal energy projects. 

Resources Minister Shane Jones says it's a worthy investment.

"The Crown stepped up to the plate in the 1950s, did an ...

New reports indicate young people aren't going to op-shops as often, and experts have raised questions as to why this is.

Despite the ongoing cost of living, it seems like younger people wanting discount fashion prefer other options - with less barriers.

Otago University professor Lisa McNeil says the extra effort to look for quality pieces is perceived as a lot of extra labour, and young people are put off.

"It's hard for them, it...

A top economist advises thinking about working from home to save fuel.

Iran's maintaining its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz - retaliating to the continued bombing assault by the US and Israel.

It's led Sri Lanka to move to a four-day working week from tomorrow. 

Westpac economist Kelly Eckhold says unless things change quickly, something will have to be done within the next three weeks. 

"Through the Covid period, we ...

There's fears there'll be no slowdown any time soon to the rapid rise in food prices.

Stats NZ figures show they rose 4.5 percent in the year to February.

Steak, mince and chocolate all shot up more than 20 percent.

Infometrics head, Brad Olsen, says the spike in oil prices because of the war in Iran will do nothing to help. 

"We know that not only oil prices are key to transport costs, but also just the production. Now if you...

A return towards decentralisation is being painted as Health New Zealand's next chapter.

The Government's reverting to giving hospitals more control - letting them decide staffing, budgets, and service delivery from July.

It's adamant it's not a return to District Health Boards, with planning still done nationally.

Acting chief executive Andrew Brant says Health NZ's finances are looking good and it's delivering more, but this ensu...

Chris Hipkins says he won't discuss family matters publicly - verging on tears at a press conference this afternoon. 

On Sunday, his ex-wife Jade Paul posted allegations on social media, none relating to unlawful conduct.

The Labour leader denies them and says he hasn't spoken to Paul, who is overseas.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's clear Paul felt like she needed to speak out as Hipkins makes...

The Australian Reserve Bank has increased interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, up to 4.1 percent.

This is the second month the RBA has lifted rates, with the bank hiking up to 3.85 percent in February.

Australian correspondet Murray Olds says the vote to increase rates was divided, but there's concerns about inflation brought on by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. 

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The Government is copping heat today for cancelling the EV subsidy a couple of years ago. Critics now say it looks like a mistake, because oil prices are rising and, as a result, petrol prices are rising too.

They argue that, of course, we’d all be better off in electric vehicles - which we supposedly would have been if the Government hadn’t cancelled the subsidy at the end of 2023.

Now let me tell you why it was not a mistake to c...

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing concerns.

US President Donald Trump has reportedly called for reinforcements to keep an eye on the waterway after the Middle East conflict led to a spike in oil prices. 

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Starmer isn't offering to help police the area, but Donald Trump has spoken to other world leaders about the matter.

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On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 16 March, 2026, we talk to the Retail NZ chief executive about an increase in card spending - will it last?

The boss of Freightways says people are getting a bit 'hysterical' about petrol price rises.

We talk to an entertainment reporter in the US about this year's big Oscar winners.

And on The Huddle, Josie Pagani and Phil O'Reilly on whether Nicola Willis' 1pm pr...

The Government is considering its options if petrol prices keep rising, but the head of Freightways is warning people not to panic.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its third week, but the Finance Minister has ruled out measures like reducing the fuel excise.

Freightways CEO Mark Troughear says there's plenty of fuel in the country and more on the way - and there's plenty of supply to keep things going. 

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Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

Protesters gathered outside Wellington's High Court today, as a lawyers' group challenges Government climate moves. Do we think this is an over-reaction?

As the crisis in the Middle East continues and concerns about fuel prices mount, Nicola Willis held a 1pm ...