Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

To strike or not to strike. 

The US President has had talks with officials on joining Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

Since the initial attack on Friday, strikes have killed at least 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis.

Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman says the split in Trump's supporter base will make things difficult. 

Patman says many MAGA supporters want to stay out of foreign wars....

The Crusaders are hoping Chiefs fans will come check out the action at this weekend's Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch - but they've suggested leaving the cowbells at home.

In a LinkedIn post, Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge promised this would be a game fans would enjoy, but there's no room for cowbells in the stadium.

Mansbridge jokingly claimed they'd be melted down and turned ...

The Statistics Minister says his agency is well up to transforming how the Census is done in New Zealand, despite previous short-comings.

The five-yearly census is being replaced by a smaller, annual survey - and using Government department data.

Stats NZ has faced past criticism over poor Census response rates 

But Shane Reti says it's ready to turn that around.

"There's been some fall-overs with Stats NZ - and actually, part...

The Prime Minister is pushing for diplomacy and trade in China  - as he visits with ministers and senior business leaders.

Discussions will be held on boosting education and tourism, including attempting to attract more international students to New Zealand.

NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the Government could look at making visa changes to make it easier on Chinese tourists.

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The US is making veiled threats towards Iran - and demanding the country's unconditional surrender.

Donald Trump is back in the White House after leaving the G7 summit in Canada early, to deal with escalation in the Middle East.

The US President has spoken with Israel's Prime Minister, and says his administration knows exactly where Iran's supreme leader is.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the US originally stated it wasn't go...

Changes to allow over the counter sales of sleep drug melatonin in New Zealand - alongside relaxing rules on magic mushrooms as medicine.

MedSafe's approved melatonin for sale to adults without a prescription.

Psilocybin remains unapproved, but one specifically qualified psychiatrist is now permitted to prescribe it for treatment-resistant depression.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is standing by not revealing the doctor's...

You know what I’m not going to miss? The census.

If there anything that showed how bad Governments can be at embracing technology, it was the census. At a time when Governments collect huge amounts of electronic data about us, it seemed ridiculous that they were also asking us to fill out a paper form and send it in.

They already know what we’re earning, the IRD has that. They already know how many babies are being born a...

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump today signed off a UK-US trade deal at the G7 summit in Canada.

The two leaders then presented the deal, revealing that the UK aerospace sector will face no tariffs at all from the US, while the auto industry will have 10 percent tariffs, down from 25 percent.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says this will come as good news for the UK's auto industry - and jobs will be saved as a result.

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Food prices increased 4.4 percent in the 12 months to May 2025, following a 3.7 percent increase in the 12 months to April 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

Higher prices for the grocery food group and the meat, poultry and fish group contributed most to the annual increase in food prices.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen unpacks the factors behind this data.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Ali Jones from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issue of the day - and more!

Minister Chris Bishop has given the green light for the demolishing of the Gordon Wilson Flats after stripping them of their heritage status. What do we make of this?

Why do we think most of Gen Z aren't interested in pursuing leadership positions anymore? Do they lack ambition?

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One expert has warned China has lost trust in New Zealand as a trading partner - and it could impact the current FTA.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon is leading a trade delegation to China, with a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping set to take place this coming Friday.

Mahon China Investment Management CEO David Mahon says Luxon's sending over a modest delegation over a short timeframe - and it's sending the wrong message to Chin...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 17 June 2025, the Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey gets a grilling following calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health. It comes after two shocking cases of people being killed by mental health patients.  

US president Donald Trump has left the G7 summit early to deal with the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, after warning 10 million ...

The Government has unveiled new changes for Employment Relations Act aimed at improving labour market flexibility - but it's raised some concerns.

One of the proposed changes includes introducing an income threshold of $180,000 above which a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal cannot be pursued.

Director and Head of Practice at Jennifer Mills & Associates, Jennifer Mills, says this threshold seems 'arbitrary'.

"I would...

I'll tell you what I'm gonna be watching with some interest in the next few weeks -  that employment bill that ACT has just introduced to Parliament that would make it a lot easier for employers to fire staff who earn more than $180,000 because those high earning staff would not be able to take personal grievance cases for justified dismissal.

Now, I say high earning with air quotes, because while yes, these people do earn a l...

New research indicates most of Gen Z aren't aiming for leadership roles in their future careers.

An annual Deloitte survey says only six percent of Gen Z respondents stated they had leadership aspirations. 

Nelson's deputy mayor Rohan O'Neill Stevens is within the Gen Z age range - and he says this survey shows this group has different goals to their predecessors.

"When you look at the top scoring results there, it's things li...

An architect is pushing back on plans to demolish Wellington's Gordon Wilson Flats - on the Terrace.

They were built in the late 1950s and have heritage status for being relatively unique social housing.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has intervened to let owners, Victoria University, demolish the building, which it'll replace with student accommodation.

Architect Ken Davis says it's part of our cultural heritage.

"If we pull it dow...