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
This morning, the Prime Minister was asked about the 2000 public servants that had lost their jobs. 2000 are out but 64,000 remain.
Chris Luxon saw nothing wrong with that.
That right there is part of the reason why this Government is polling so poorly, because it's all talk, isn't it, bugger all action.
Now I'm sorry. I realize this is a lot to start the week with - we're starting strident.
I don't mean to continue lik...
The Finance Minister made it clear she was unimpressed with the way the RBNZ handled public communication around Adrian Orr’s departure.
Reserve Bank board chair Neil Quigley recently revealed he 'regretted' the time it took to release information around Orr's surprise resignation.
Nicola Willis says the central bank could have provided some clarifying statements more promptly than they did.
"As soon as they'd worked through what t...
Doctors specialising in menopause have expressed relief following Pharmac's recent u-turn.
Pharmac has announced it'll fund both the Estradot and Mylan brands of hormone replacement patches from December, after public consultation.
It follows backlash in response to its decision to switch suppliers
Menodoctor Clinical Director Dr Linda Dear says this is the news they needed to hear.
She says it's good to have thes...
There's questions over how well vaping regulations will be monitored.
New rules come in tomorrow, including stricter advertising restrictions for vape retailers and a ban on disposable vapes
Aspire Aotearoa Tobacco Control's Doctor Jude Ball says non-compliance is a problem overseas.
But she says the number of enforcement agents has increased, so she's expecting the rules to be enforced.
"These measures are designed to protect chil...
Workers may soon be eligible for different amounts of sick leave based on the hours they work.
This morning, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon revealed the Workplace Relations Minister is looking at altering the current 10 day entitlement.
Brooke van Velden says Cabinet has already agreed to develop a pro-rated sick leave system.
"Is it fair that someone who works maybe one day a week, maybe two days a week gets the sam...
Winston Peters says the Government's providing the best possible advice to New Zealanders in Iran and Israel.
This afternoon, the Foreign Affairs Minister called the escalation of tension in the Middle East the most 'uncertain' geopolitical circumstances he's ever seen.
At last count, there are 50 Kiwis registered as being in Iran, and 80 in Israel.
Peters says leaving could be challenging, given that airports are...
Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed today that changes were coming to existing sick leave terms.
In 2021, Labour and the Greens doubled statutory sick leave from 5 to 10 days as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Christopher Luxon said Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden is working on new changes - but it prompted concerns from some.
NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained further.
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Anthony Albanese is set to meet US President Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time at the G7 summit in Canada.
It's expected Albanese will use these discussions to make the case for an exemption to trade tariffs and talk up the AUKUS agreement.
Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Trump will use these discussions to encourage Australia to boost up their defence spending.
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Auckland FC has suffered a brutal defeat to Germany's Bayern Munich.
The German side were absolutely ruthless on Monday morning in Cincinnati, with a 10-0 thumping of the amateur National League team.
Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further.
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New Zealand's greyhound racing industry is set to close from July next year - but Greyhound Racing NZ doesn't want to pay for the incoming shutdown.
Recently released documents show the Government is planning to take $15 million from the organisation's savings to pay the admin costs of shuttering the sector for good.
Greyhound Racing NZ CEO Edward Rennell says the Government brought this on themselves.
"It's also money that could g...
Let me tell you about my colleague Kylie's reaction to that Air India plane crash last night.
She was in bed. She was playing on her phone as you do, and the news came in at about 9 o'clock.
Immediately, she looked, she suspected it, looked up what kind of plane it was, exactly as she thought: a Boeing.
Then she immediately looked up what plane her 12-year-old daughter is on to Samoa this Sunday —exactly as she ex...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 13 June 2025, Israel has launched an attack on Iran, but international relations expert Al Gillespie doesn't think we should be freaking out about it quite yet.
Former US transport accident investigator Mary Schiavo speaks to Heather about what might have led to that devastating Air India plane crash.
We find out why the National Library wants to destroy half a mil...
The National Library wants to destroy half a million unwanted books from its collection.
The library says most of the titles have not been issues for the last 20 to 30 years, and attempts to donate books in the past only resulted in modest pick up.
Mark Crookston is the Director of Content Services at the National Library.
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Police have been attacked with fireworks, bottles and bricks as disorder erupted in Northern Ireland for the third night.
The worst of the violence took place in Ballymena, but unrest also spread out to other towns in the surrounding areas.
UK correspondent Enda Brady says the conflict kicked off after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena.
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After a couple of dire years, a growing number of companies are listing on the relevant stock exchanges.
An IPO is a key source of funding for companies, and investors appreciate this change in direction.
Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further.
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It's all go at Fieldays 2025, and the Country's Jamie Mackay is taking it all in.
Farmers are in a better mood as primary export figures soar - and business is booming.
Jamie Mackay recaps the mood of day two of Fieldays.
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Tonight on The Huddle, Maxim Institute researcher Thomas Scrimgeour and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The UN has raised the alarm over declining fertility rates, with cost of living and job insecurity being cited as the primary factors behind these changes. How can we fix this? What changes could be made?
Kainga Ora is set to roll out the w...
The GDP for Q1 is set to drop next week - and experts are feeling confident about the state of the economy.
Predictions from economists claim figures will pick up this time round.
NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann speculates further.
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The Corrections union is sounding the alarm on prison capacity.
The Ministry of Justice projects the prison population will increase 36 percent by 2035 to more than 14,000 people.
The Corrections Association of New Zealand says facilities are already at 95 percent capacity.
National President Floyd du Plessis says he predicts it will be completely full within 18 months.
He says some projects will slightly help - b...
According to new data from the United Nations, fertility rates are on the decline and families are getting smaller.
The cost of living, job insecurity and housing costs are among the main factors preventing families from having as many kids as they would have wanted, new reports claim.
Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley says women are also getting more educated and have more of a role in the workforce - and that's another ...
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