Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's hopes from David Seymour that he can convince National to get on board with ditching climate change targets. 

The ACT leader wants New Zealand to leave the Paris climate change agreement - unless we can negotiate a better deal.

But Prime Minister Chris Luxon says leaving the deal will only hurt our farmers, as international consumers value New Zealand's clean brand. 

David Seymour says his party is influential.&nb...

There's been plenty of debate about New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement, following some comments made by David Seymour.

The ACT leader wants New Zealand to pull out of the global climate agreement, unless the targets are realistic.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon won't withdraw from the agreement - at least not until the 2026 election is over.

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Police believe Dezi Freeman is receiving additional help as the surge for the alleged gunman continues on.

Freeman is accused of shooting Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart at his Porepunkah property, before escaping into the bush.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Freeman was heavily armed when he made his escape - and there's been no sign of him since.

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The Government's decided against making university entrance harder in its tertiary education shake-up. 

Universities Minister Shane Reti recently announced a package of initiatives to modernise the sector.

Reti's refresh only accepts 23 of 63 recommendations made by the University Advisory Group.

The group's leader, Sir Peter Gluckman, says they recommended changing up entry requirements, as it would ensure quality. 

"We'...

The UK Government is set to introduce tighter rules for migrants granted asylum bringing their families to the UK.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to unveil new  criteria for family members - including tougher English language standards and access to sufficient funds.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says immigration is likely to become a key talking point at the next election, and the Government's feeling pressure from Reform'...

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!

There's growing calls among educators to make learning a second language compulsory for schoolkids - do we agree with this?

Foreign buyers can now buy homes in New Zealand - if they have invested over $5 million, they can buy a home worth $5 million or more. Has the ...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 1 September 2025, the $5 million dollar rule. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford tells Heather why foreign investors will soon be able to buy expensive homes in New Zealand.  

Should we make learning a second language compulsory? Juliet Kennedy from the NZ association of language teachers tells Heather why we should.

Heather asks Associate Finance Minister Ch...

We've got to talk about Cornwall Park.

So over the weekend, it was quite windy in Auckland. If you're in Auckland, you know what I mean - that was some crazy-ass wind that was going on out there, definitely found the drafts of my house.

If you're out of Auckland, it was kind of like a day in Wellington, but in Auckland. So it was unusual for us.

Now, I don't know where we got to in the end, but the forecast was for gusts ...

There's plenty of solutions being suggested to clear up the current energy crisis - and the former head of Mercury Energy has just unveiled a potential idea.

Fraser Whineray recently suggested the time has come to drop the carbon price that we've put on coal through the ETS in order to bring power prices down. 

He says the ETS is designed to encourage people to use green alternatives, but there isn't a green alternative applic...

Former New Zealand Prime Ministers John Key and Helen Clark will attend a large Chinese military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese victory against Japan in World War Two.

The ceremony in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday will also feature leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. 

National Minister Chris Bishop says he thinks the invitation reflects the historical circumstances of their Governments.

"Helen Clar...

New research has found fewer students are studying languages now than in the 1930s - and educators are calling for a solution.

The report, Language Learning for New Zealand’s Future, says second language learning should be a core requirement for students from years seven to ten.

President of the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers, Juliet Kennedy, says it's important for Kiwi students to learn another language.

"It's also ...

New Zealand has risen two spots to third place in this year's Global Peace Index. 

Countries are ranked based on measures including societal safety and security, and the degree of militarisation. 

We currently sit behind Iceland and Ireland, and ahead of Austria and Switzerland. 

Otago University Emeritus Peace and Conflict Studies professor Kevin Clements says recent defence purchases could count against us next yea...

The Immigration Minister hopes allowing people on the Golden Visa to buy a home here will boost the economy in the long-run.

The coalition's come to an agreement - allowing people on Active Investor Plus visas to buy or build one home, worth at least $5 million - if they invest at least another $5 million into the economy.

Erica Stanford says she didn't want anything to skew the market - and $5 million seemed like a good figure.

"I...

There's hopes from one electricity retailer that the Government may underwrite generation projects. 

The Government is expected to make decisions this month on reforming the energy sector - after it asked global consultancy company Frontier Economics to report back on what's needed. 

Octopus Energy chief executive Margaret Cooney says underwriting's worked in the past with the ultra-fast broadband rollout. 

"You can ...

The coalition's confident allowing certain wealthy foreign buyers to buy a home won't drive up house prices.

It's agreed to pass changes, allowing people on an Active Investor Plus visa to buy or build one home in New Zealand - worth a minimum of $5 million.

The visa requires an additional investment of at least $5 million, on top of the price of the home.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these changes ma...

The wife of a gunman who allegedly killed two police officers in rural Victoria last week has urged her husband to surrender. 

Dezi Freeman is accused of opening fire on police officers, who were carrying out a raid at property in Porepunkah.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the police have been dealing with adverse weather conditions as the manhunt enters its seventh day.

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