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
There's fears St John's cutting of community programmes will put more pressure on health workers.
The organisation's new community health direction will see the Therapy Pets and Hospital Volunteers and Community Carers programmes wrap up by next June.
NZNO President Anne Daniels says logic suggests these cuts have been made due to declining funding.
"Even though these volunteers don't get paid, there is an infrastructure cost. And ...
A temporary shutdown may be on the cards for fertiliser manufacturer Ballance as it struggles to secure affordable gas.
The farmer and grower co-op says it may close its Kapuni plant for up to four months as a contingency.
The company manufactures about a third of New Zealand’s urea fertiliser each year.
Chief executive Kelvin Wickham says they aren't able to secure gas on a long-term basis.
"We are hunting for short-term gas...
The Government's putting product labelling regulations under the microscope in another attack on red tape.
The Ministry for Regulation's reviewing labelling standards, and expects to be finished by the end of the year.
Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Minister for Regulation David Seymour has pointed out the compliance standards companies are subject to - and he's looking to make some changes.
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The Australian Government is facing renewed calls to increase the GST, but hand taxpayers a hefty rebate set to shield low-income earners.
The new proposal, put forward by teal independent MP Kate Chaney and economist Richard Holden, would raise the GST from 10 percent to 15 percent.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this change would leave Australia's lowest earners better off than under the current system.
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Richie Mo'unga will return to New Zealand Rugby next year, via the NPC with Canterbury.
The 56-test All Black has signed an 18-month contract to return to New Zealand Rugby in July next year - after three seasons playing in Japan.
Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.
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Some Auckland ratepayers have been getting nasty surprises when opening their newest bills for the year.
The Herald has identified a number of properties who've been overcharged, including a $3.9 million multi-unit property with an incorrect $444,766 - 11.4 percent - rates bill.
Auckland Council Group chief financial officer Ross Tucker says they process the rates bills for a huge volume of properties in Auckland.
"The...
Taxes must rise in the coming months in order to reach financial targets, according to one UK-based economic think tank.
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research recommends 'a moderate but sustained increase in taxes' to cover a £41.2 billion gap.
UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains further.
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The Building Nations conference kicked off today, with the nation's major political parties seemingly aligned on future infrastructure.
National's Chris Bishop and Labour's Kieran McAnulty spoke this afternoon, and they appeared to be united about future partnerships.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further.
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Government debt levels are rising globally - with many at risk of permanent structural deficits if they can't bring down interest bills each year.
Cutting spending and increasing taxes is an unpopular concept among voters, so experts are wondering what the next steps could be.
Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains further.
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Rugby Australia has confirmed the rule restricting how many overseas based players Wallabies coaches can pick has been scrapped.
Rugby Australia has since claimed the rule hasn't been enforced for some time.
Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.
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Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Conor English from Silvereye communications joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The latest report into our grocery sector found the duopoly continues to be highly lucrative, and Kiwis are paying the 5th highest prices in the OECD. Are we sick of all the talk about this? Can we expect the Government to do someth...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 6 August 2025, Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains why he's replacing fuel taxes with road user charges for everyone - and how long it's going to take to actually happen.
Unemployment has risen to 5.2% - the highest rate since 2020. So how much worse is it going to get?
The Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden tells Heather supermarket competition is sti...
So the Government just announced what they’re calling the biggest change to road funding in 50 years. Once these changes kick in, petrol taxes are out and RUCs - road user charges - are in, for everyone.
Not just truckies, not just EV drivers, not just diesel users, every single one of us.
This is not really a surprise, the Government flagged this two years ago. But now the work is starting and Cabinet has agreed to start chan...
New World shoppers have been left disappointed by the supermarket's latest giveaway, as key items have been running out weeks into the promotion.
The braiser is both the most sought after - and most expensive - item up for grabs, but many customers have reported a shortage of stock.
Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says 70,000 of these braisers were ordered, but the company didn't expect this level of demand.
"Guessing what m...
Competition's lacking in the supermarket sector and Kiwis are struggling to put food on the table.
The Commerce Commission's Annual Grocery Report's revealed our grocery prices are the fifth-highest in the developed world.
It highlights the market isn't supportive of new players, and major supermarkets continue to wield power over smaller stores.
Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden says extra competition is key to b...
The Transport Minister says the petrol tax needs replacing - to keep up revenue for maintaining roads.
Chris Bishop's announced universal road user charges will be implemented for all vehicles, to be paid like a bill.
The Government wants payments to reflect road-use, not a vehicle's fuel-efficiency.
Bishop says with 350,000 hybrids on the road, fewer people are paying fuel taxes.
He explained the national land transport fund's rev...
New Zealand businesses owe more than $1.4 billion in unpaid GST and PAYE from the 2025 tax year, according to new reports.
Of 2025's number, $432.9 million relates to employer activities and $1.047 billion to GST.
IRD Customer Segment Manager Tony Morris says this data's in line with what's happening overseas - but it's an area they aim to put more focus on.
"What we're seeing is a bit of an increase in the amount of companies gett...
The sluggish job market is another bump in our road to economic recovery, according to some recent predictions.
The unemployment rate's sitting at 5.2 percent - its highest point in five years.
In late 2021, it was just 3.2 percent.
Westpac senior economist, Michael Gordon, says it shows our economic slowdown's ongoing.
He says it's not too surprising, given the Reserve Bank's moves to control inflation.
"I ...
The Government has unveiled a new plan designed to level the playing field for all motorists.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop's announced the Government plans to implement universal road user charges, to be paid like a bill.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this sounds like a good concept in theory, but there's some key flaws.
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Elon Musk’s reputation has taken a noticeable dive, according to the most recent data.
Gallup surveyed Americans about what they thought of 14 well-known U.S. and global figures, with 61 percent of respondents having an unfavourable opinion of Musk.
US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says that other people in Trump's inner circle also had negative net favourability ratings, with RFK Jr and JD Vance underperforming in the poll.&n...
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