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
A native hawk in the Wairarapa has been confirmed as the second case of bird flu in New Zealand.
The animal was sent to a wildlife hospital after suffering a head injury where the disease was found upon routine testing.
Minister of Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they are working with farmers in the region.
"From an MPI perspective, we are touching base with all, I think there's about 13, e...
US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat the latest news out of the USA.
Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has announced that US troops aged 30 or older will have to undergo testosterone testing as part of annual health screenings.
Mitchinson said, "there are, you know, studies that show 1 in 4 men over 30 have low testosterone, and only 1 in 20 recognise the symptoms, but really this just seems l...
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says that cases of unauthorised employees snooping on private information are growing.
He told Heather du Plessis-Allan "it looks like at least 1 in 10 cases are employee browsing, and a greater percentage, up to a third, are, are what we call unauthorised access. So, people who have a right to look at material, but only for work purposes, and they're using it for their personal purposes."
LISTE...
The wait for England's next Football World Cup final appearance will extend beyond 60 years.
The Three Lions have lost 2-1 to defending champions Argentina in the semi finals in Atlanta...after conceding two late goals in seven minutes.
Manager Thomas Tuchel is already under scrutiny for his second half tactics after leading 1-nil.
Argentina and Spain will contest the final in New Jersey on Monday.
UK correspondent Enda Brady unpac...
The major US banks have reported their earnings, and experts say these results can offer a clear snapshot of the state of the US and global economy.
JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Citi were among the major banks reporting their results, leaving investors to speculate about the wider implications.
Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meat industry leaders are disappointed with the United States’ move to initiate a safeguard investigation into lamb imports from New Zealand and Australia.
The investigation, to be carried out by the US’s International Trade Commission, is expected to take up to six months to complete.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and former Labour Minister Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Councils have been signing iwi partnership agreements before the RMA is replaced - are we worried about this? What is Chris Bishop trying to do?
ACT leader David Seymour is looking into banning smartphones for under-16s. Do we think this is the way to...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 16 July, 2026, Auckland University professor Dianne Brunton tells us why the spread of bird flu is now inevitable.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson on why the party believes new employees should automatically join the union.
We talk to a university student leader about why those who have part-time jobs are doing better.
If anyone on a council at the moment can't understand why so many of us ratepayers are so hostile towards them, sometimes bordering on hatred, can I just suggest they take a look at what's going on with these agreements with iwi? That might actually give them a bit of an idea.
If you haven't followed this, Chris Bishop is planning to replace the Resource Management Act shortly and his replacement law will not allow councils to sign...
Kiwis are often told to look for the best deals on power, and they're not afraid to swap providers for a better price.
So who's winning and who's losing the battle for those customers?
Data from the Electricity Authority shows that Genesis Energy is the biggest loser here, with the company losing a net 35,015 customers in the year to June.
Nova lost 9059, Manawa 3329 and Mercury 2706.
On the opposite end, Contact gained 20,577, Ele...
A Far North Councillor is accusing the council of keeping details of iwi agreements under the rug.
Davina Smolders says the council is in the process of negotiating and signing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe with five iwi and one hapu.
She is demanding these agreements be made public so voters and other elected officials can have their say.
Smolders says the deals are binding statutory agreements.
She says they establish permane...
A new report by the Education Ministry shows more tertiary students than ever have been working while studying and most had better pass rates than the ones who didn't work.
The report said that in 2024, students in low-intensity work had a course completion rate of 88 percent while those in moderate-intensity work had a slightly lower pass rate.
Meanwhile, those who did not work at all had the same pass rate as those in high-intens...
The Greens have made an election pledge to make union membership automatic for new employees.
Co-leader Marama Davidson says this members bill and policy would make union membership the default setting for new employees, who could choose to opt out.
Davidson explained that unions are a critical way for workers to get better pay and conditions and this bill will make it easier for them to get involved.
"This is a good idea, and of c...
More cases of bird flu seem inevitable here, according to some experts.
Our first infection with the globally spreading H5N1 strain has been confirmed in a migratory brown skua, found on Wellington's Petone Beach last Friday.
Auckland University Professor Dianne Brunton says it's not even clear if our next likely case will be linked.
"New Zealand is kind of in the middle of nowhere, of course, but we are surrounded by s...
The Green Party says unions are to thank for workplace rights Kiwis now see as a given.
Co-leader Marama Davidson's announced a members bill to make union membership the default, which is also a Party election policy.
Membership would still be optional, but workers would need to opt-out, not in.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this proposal feels like a step backwards, given which other count...
A federal police investigation into a Sydney childcare worker who allegedly abused 136 children has expanded to a remote Indigenous community in South Australia.
Hamish Tait is facing 329 charges related to the alleged abuse of the children over a 16-year period.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says police have released additional material related to the case in order to encourage more impacted families to come forward.
...
ACT leader David Seymour wants New Zealand to become a testing ground for emerging technologies - by allowing companies to temporarily bypass regulations through a regulatory exemption scheme.
Seymour says the existing rules are 'prohibitive' and that the 'innovation trials' will help get new technology like self-driving vehicles, agricultural drones and crypto going into New Zealand faster.
He says it's important we start experime...
The All Blacks have moved the big frame of Tupou Vaa’i to blindside for the Nations Championship test against Ireland on Saturday.
Looking to add more size to his backrow - coach Dave Rennie has picked Vaa’i in the 6 jumper he wore in four of last year's opening five tests.
Loose forwards Anton Segner and Peter Lakai have both been named in the reserves, with the All Blacks not requiring further second row cover.
Sports...
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has revealed he gets 30 death threats a week - as ministers are accused of 'playing politics' with his safety.
He will present the figures when he holds talks with the head of the MPs security team in a bid to improve protection for Reform MPs following the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these stats will likely lead to an overall review into security - as violence is o...
Home owners are being warned their insurance claims could be declined if their local councils deem their properties to be at risk of natural hazards.
According to Land Information New Zealand, 25,614 properties have natural hazard risks flagged on their titles.
That means 25,614 properties may be at least partially uninsurable.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.