Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Police have carried out sting operations to crack down on illegal sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use - known as nangs.

Five retailers across the North Island have been charged under the Psychoactive Substances Act and could face prison time.

The canisters are meant to be used to whip cream.

Superintendent Dion Bennett says during the stings - it was clear customers were buying nangs for recreational use.

"We weren't dresse...

UK Prime Minister Starmer is fighting for his job as he faces MPs to explain the sacking of the top civil servant in the UK Foreign Office.

It follows the revelation that his department didn’t tell the Prime Minister that Lord Mandelson failed security vetting.

Mandelson took up the role of UK ambassador to the US in February 2025, but seven months later he was sacked over ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

UK correspo...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 April, 2026, we ask the MetService's head of weather news how they got the forecast so wrong with the latest flooding disasters.

Education Minister Erica Stanford outlines relief for schools affected by the fuel crisis.

We hear about a bus trial where the driver lets you off closer to your destination at night.

And on The Huddle, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani d...

New Zealand First is heading into the election with a plan to break up the supermarket duopoly.

If re-elected, the party's promising to split Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-operatives - one for New World and Four Square, and the other for Pak'nSave.

Consumer NZ says the current Government's efforts to encourage a third player into the market have largely been unsuccessful. 

Head of Advocacy and Research, Gemma Rasmussen, ha...

The Finance Minister has raised some concerns over NZ First's bid to break up the supermarket duopoly. 

NZ First has announced that if re-elected, it will split Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-operates: one for New World and Four Square, and the other for Pak'nSave. 

Nicola Willis says it's good idea, but it needs to be carefully implemented. 

"That's why I've been taking my time working through proposals, looking ...

Obviously, what everybody in politics is talking about today is what’s going to happen at the National Party caucus meeting in Wellington tomorrow morning, regarding the Prime Minister’s ongoing leadership.

Now, I can’t call it. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen.

On the one hand, the Prime Minister is under more pressure than he was before the weekend because of last night’s One News-Verian poll. Usually, that poll is quite g...

Experts are wondering who will foot the bill for protecting or moving communities threatened by climate change.

The Insurance Council is among advocates pushing the Government to speed up decisions on managing the issue.

They say severe weather won't wait.

Chief executive Kris Faafoi says the Government's indicated councils will lead climate adaption.

But he says a clearer roadmap's needed - as councils look to raise money over the...

A fresh idea in Auckland aims to make rides on public transport safer and easier.

AT is trialling the flexi-stop system on bus route 18 - between the city and New Lynn - after 7pm every day until September.

Passengers on the service can ask to be let off the bus anywhere along the route between stops, given it's safe for the driver to do so. 

AT Public Transport Operations Group Manager, Rachel Cara, says it's a success so far...

Temporary fuel support is being funnelled into keeping rural schools up and running.

The Education Minister's speeding up replacing diesel boilers for up to 70 schools.

Our smallest schools are getting one-off $2500 grants - and student commute allowances are being hiked 30 percent for 5000 students.

Erica Stanford says mileage support's more than doubling for relief teachers at remote schools. 

"If it doesn't make financial s...

MetService is defending the lack of warning in Wellington, before it was battered by torrential rain and flash flooding early today.

Karori man Philip Sutton hasn't been found since his home flooded.

Wairarapa and Wellington - excluding Porirua - now sit under a rare red warning until late tomorrow.

A State of Emergency's been declared, with warnings to evacuate from low-lying areas.

MetService's Heather Keats says limited warning'...

Isolated and rural schools are next in line for help with the fuel shock.

Education Minister Erica Stanford's announced they'll put $37 million dollars into speeding up diesel boiler replacements at up to 70 schools.

They'll also more than double mileage reimbursement for relief teachers temporarily and hike funding for about 5000 students' school commute, by 30 percent.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says L...

Australia's Viva Energy warned it expects its Geelong refinery to produce diesel and jet fuel at around 80 percent ​of capacity in the short term.

The refinery caught fire last week and burned for 13 hours before being put out. 

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says it's not as bad as it could have been - but concerns have been raised as the fuel crisis continues. 

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Care for locals in a King Country town isolated by floodwater over the weekend, with some forced to evacuate.

A State of Emergency still applies for Ruapehu's Ohura Ward - and a community hui's being held at its Hall tomorrow evening.

Ruapehu district mayor, Weston Kirton, says the region's through the worst of it weather wise, but there's still lingering damage. 

"When it comes to isolated areas like Ohura and others, sometim...

I know there’s a suggestion that maybe - just maybe - Moana Pasifika can be saved. But do yourself a favour and don’t waste your time hoping for it because I think this is going to be the club’s last season.

I don’t relish saying that because Moana Pasifika was absolutely one of the highlights of last year’s Super Rugby season. But it has never stacked up financially, has it?

The only reason it was able to pay its way for a while w...

A construction expert says customers could soon face price hikes of 25%.

Stats NZ data shows petrol prices rose almost 19% last month, while diesel prices were up almost 43%.

AUT Professor John Tookey says the industry heavily relies on oil for producing and transporting materials.

He says the destruction of oil wells and processing facilities in the Middle East could take years or decades to rebuild. 

Tookey says, if it conti...