Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to start lifting the pension age if National get back into government after the coming election.

Bipartisan support will most likely be needed to make this happen as parties, like NZ First, are staunchly against the reform.

"Please do not attack grandmother and grandmother's savings to try and disguise for a brief time your economic incompetence," Winston Peters said to Heather du Plessis-Alla...

If it’s not already obvious to you, the fact that Maiki Sherman has lost her job should now make it very clear: the media—especially the state broadcasters, both of them—are about to find out what it means not just to make and report the news but to be the news.

Just look at what’s happened this week alone. And this is only a sample—this has been building for some time.
In one week, TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has lost h...

Opportunity Party, previously TOP, are coming in hot this election with a brand new leader Qiulae Wong. 

Wong joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the party's campaign policies including universal basic income.

She says the Opportunity Party is appealing to dissatisfied Green, National, and Labour voters. 

"We are certainly seeing people from across the political spectrum coming to Opportunity."

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Over in the UK, Labour's bracing itself for a set of local, Scottish and Welsh election results.

Reports claim a poor showing in these elections could bring about the end of Keir Starmer’s prime ministership, and significant losses are projected. 

UK correspondent Enda Brady says there's growing calls for Starmer's resignation already - and people are losing confidence as Reform gets more attention. 

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Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

The Government has confirmed it plans to investigate the City Rail Link project, after reports revealed it could have cost $2 billion less. Do we think this review is needed?

Is it time to lift the Super age from 65? Another economist has warned we can't k...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 7 May, 2026, Steve Lancaster is finally confirmed as the new chief executive of New Zealand Rugby. We talk about the prospect of an Anzac test.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka on changes that could see reserve land put up for sale.

Youthline chief executive Shae Ronald tells us about the biggest issues confronting those aged 12 to 24.

And on The Huddle, Mark Sa...

Now, you would have thought that after all the publicity Wellington City Council has been getting - and the paid staff have been getting - for being caught doing things behind the backs of elected councillors, they probably wouldn’t do it again.

And yet, here we are. They’ve been caught doing it again.

The latest revelation is that they have decided to exempt themselves from a Government law brought in about three months ago.

The l...

The Conservation Minister says the new planned reforms of conservation law will benefit Kiwi businesses and biodiversity. 

It lays the groundwork for reinvesting revenue from charging international tourists - estimated at about $60 million a year - back into conservation land.

It also speeds up the Department of Conservation signing off leases and permits.

Minister Tama Potaka says this will modernise legislation that was in n...

The rise in AI has seen demand for professionally written CVs in a bid to stand out against algorithms.

Experts say while AI can be useful to screen hundreds of applicants faster, it's created a transparency gap between employers and jobseekers.

CVs by Sarah director Sarah Wrightson says the screening software rules out applicants before a human gets a chance to look at their CVs, and it results in qualified applicants getting filt...

The Infrastructure Minister suspects the grandeur of Auckland's City Rail Link stations will surprise users.

Chris Bishop's announced the build will be reviewed - after the project's former boss claimed it could have been completed for half the $5.5 billion spent. 

Bishop says the architecture is amazing, and some might describe the stations as palaces. 

"They're going to be incredible, but they come at a price. And you'v...

New Zealand Rugby has appointed Steve Lancaster as the organisation’s new chief executive, after he spent six months as the interim CEO.

In a statement, NZR chairman David Kirk congratulated Lancaster on the appointment - and said he brings 'strong experience at all levels of the game'.

Lancaster says he's intent on turning up and doing the best job he can and he's focused on making the business sustainable. 

"I guess the boar...

New Zealand's treading water, with a warning our increasingly overloaded pension system isn't sustainable.

The latest OECD snapshot of our economy suggests unless we adjust systems, including the costs of health, long-term care and pension will increase by about five percent of GDP by 2060.

It says it could be countered by changes including upping Superannuation contributions. 

Economist Cameron Bagrie says we can't keep kicki...

There's claims new legislation brings the most significant reform of conservation law in nearly 40 years.

A Government bill's been lodged, to allow reinvestment of international visitor fees into conservation, with estimates it'll raise $60 million a year.

The reform will also speed up DOC decision making, with claims it will add consistency to processes for applying Treaty obligations.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Ba...

Australia's unveiled a new multi-billion -dollar fuel security package to keep things going amid the ongoing global uncertainty.

The plan, to be included in the upcoming federal budget, will fund the creation of a Government-owned fuel reserve and expand onshore storage to boost fuel supply.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the opposition has raised concerns about this - and said it's not enough for the country.

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Mental health organisations are struggling to get the attention of young people in need.

The latest Youthline ASB State of the Generation report finds mental health is the largest issue, followed by lack of job opportunities and bullying. 

The survey of 12-24-year-olds also suggests 41 percent don't know they can get help from support organisations. 

Youthline chief executive Shae Ronald says there's an uptick in recent u...

Weeks of uncertainty, over an outbreak of deadly hantavirus on a Dutch cruise ship travelling the Atlantic.

Three people have died, with other cases confirmed and suspected.

The 150 passengers are isolating in cabins, including one New Zealander. 

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says investigations are taking place into the outbreak, as it's unknown where it came from.

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