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
The UK is hailing a new era of relations with Europe, as they seek closer ties on trade and defence.
The new deal signals a resetting of ties with the European Union post-Brexit, and could mean significant trade benefits for Britain.
It'll be easier to trade food across the border, and allow the UK to access EU funds for defence development.
UK correspondent Enda Brady says this development puts an end to the 'little Britain' exper...
New reports indicate a critical part of the Government’s plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next five years appears to have fallen over.
A huge chunk of the Government’s climate success rests on a single project, which the owner now says probably won’t happen because it doesn’t stack up commercially.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further.
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It's less than two days to go until Budget Day 2025, and experts are outlining their predictions.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hinted this won't be a 'lolly scramble' and plenty of cuts will have to take place.
Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains further,
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Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The suspension debate for the three Māori Party MPs has been postponed until June 5 in a surprise move. Do we think this is the right call?
It's been revealed Auckland Council spent $3 million on communications and advertising for the green food scrap bins -&nbs...
Well, that ended up being a fizzer, didn't it?
I mean, wow, here we were. We were expecting this big debate over the Māori Party punishments to drag on for days, if not weeks, and overshadow the Budget - and the blinking thing didn't even last an hour. It got postponed to next month.
What happened was, in retrospect, very simple and very obvious, just a move from the Government.
It came to the Government's turn to talk about i...
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 20 May 2025, Leader of the House Chris Bishop speaks to Heather after his surprise move to delay the much anticipated debate about Maori Party MPs' punishments.
Former Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell defends the MPs right to haka in the house without being punished.
Auckland Council has spent $3 million dollars on PR and marketing for its food scrap bins -...
After years of delay, Aucklanders can expect to receive their property valuations early next month.
Auckland Council says it expected to deliver the new valuations, commonly known as capital values (CVs), in the week of June 9 to June 13.
Property commentator Ashley Church says it's unlikely this will make a difference in overall valuations.
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The debate on Te Pāti Māori's proposed punishment has been paused until June - but it's still sparked discussion among some.
Debate was set to begin today on proposed suspensions for the Te Pāti Māori MPs who did a haka during voting on the Treaty Principles Bill - before the Government moved to adjourn it.
Despite this, former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has spoken in defence of Te Pāti Māori.
"The bigger kaupapa here is around an...
Health professionals have voiced concerns as the Runit Championship League makes its debut in Auckland.
The controversial new combat sport has players running full force at each other.
Stacey Mowbray, Headway CEO, says this sport presents high risks of brain injury - and the research agrees.
"One thing that worries us is - have these people been fully informed? Listening to people involved in it, they didn't actually seem to realis...
The tide looks to be changing for Gull as the leader of low-priced petrol offerings.
Fuel-finding app Gaspy is reporting Taupo's Gull Ātiamuri has been undercut by Z-Energy's Waikaraka U-GO in South Auckland.
AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins says Gull paved the way with its New Zealand- owned self-service model.
He explained it has a low cost entry, with electronic payment options meaning stations don't need staff - ...
The ACC Minister denies his comments last week played into the agency now pausing its sexual violence prevention programme.
Scott Simpson suggested he was looking at narrowing the scope of ACC responsibilities to sexual abuse victims.
ACC has confirmed it's paused the nationwide rollout of Hikitia - as it aligns itself with Government plans.
Simpson now says there's no connection, and he has no intention to shed ACC's respons...
The Leader of the House says postponing the debate on Te Pāti Māori MPs' sanctions is the right thing to do.
Debate began today on proposed suspensions for the Te Pāti Māori MPs who did a haka during voting on the now-rejected Treaty Principles Bill.
But 20 minutes in, the Government moved to adjourn it - to leave this week free to be all about the Budget.
The opposition were blindsided.
Chris Bishop says he ...
A stay - for Te Pāti Māori MPs expecting debate on possible suspension today.
The Privileges Committee recommended suspensions for Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for a protest haka during voting on the contentious Treaty Principles Bill.
But 20 minutes after the debate began, Parliament's voted to adjourn it.
Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacked today's events - and discussed why Na...
Australian's opposition has split - officially ending the Liberal-National coalition.
National leader David Littleproud has confirmed his party will stand apart from Sussan Ley's Liberals, but he's leaving the door open.
The coalition had an election thrashing this month.
Leader Peter Dutton lost his seat and Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scored a second term.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds unpacks what th...
Sonny Bill Williams is adamant that his upcoming boxing bout against Paul Gallen will be the last time he steps in the ring.
The former All Blacks and Kiwis star has finally been confirmed to fight State of Origin league enforcer Paul Gallen on July 16 in Sydney.
Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.
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New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins.
This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far.
Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective.
"Auckland Council spends about $36 million ...
Negotiations to reset the UK's post-Brexit relations reached a turning point - with leaders holding talks ahead of an upcoming summit.
Both regions recently reached a 12-year deal giving fishing access for EU boats in UK waters.
UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained further.
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Moody's cut the US credit rating by one notch, citing rising debt and interest payments that outpace those of similar sovereigns.
The downgrade to 'Aa1' from 'Aaa' follows a change in the outlook on the sovereign in 2023 due to wider fiscal deficit and higher interest payments, according to new data.
Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further.
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Commercial users of gas are likely to be hit hard by 'unsustainable' prices this year, according to sector regulators.
The Gas Industry Company’s latest quarterly report said average spot prices rose sharply in the first three months of 2025 as production continued to decline and demand remained relatively constant.
Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie explains what this could mean for the sector.
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Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Is Auckland Council out of line for making the owner of a Mt Eden villa remove the new windows because they violate heritage rules? Is this over the top?
Budget 2025 is due out this week - but will the Te Pāti Māori saga overshadow it?
Is Gary Lineker's r...