Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The high street tailor "Crane Brothers" has been a fixture on the street for years - and it will remain so for even longer.

Murray Crane - the man behind the business - has signed to keep the business in it's current location for another 25 years. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "[on High Street] we're seeing tenancies being refilled and leases being signed."

Crane said that despite the CBD's post-COVID drop in footfall, he...

CEO Sir Russell Coutts has today announced the City of Sails as the second stop of next season's world tour.

Auckland Unlimited revealed their million-dollar investment to the January regatta, which returned $5million.

Head of Major Events Michelle Hooper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they're looking to do it all again and continue to have Auckland host in the future.

She says the intention by all parties is to have Auckland h...

A former Speaker of the house is being taken to the High Court for musical torture during the 2022 anti-mandate protest.

A girl from Northland, who was 11 at the time, says Mallard weaponised songs like Disney's Let it Go - causing mental anguish, humiliation and de-humanisation.

Her lawyer, Tudor Clee says blasting someone with music is a military-style torture technique.

He says this is the first time this technique has been inte...

A draft Inland Revenue briefing supports lifting the GST rate if required - and notes tax credits could help people on lower incomes.

The IRD briefing also brought up the lack of a capital gains tax, but did not endorse any specific view on it.

Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Heather du Plessis-Allan that lifting GST is a fast and efficient way to raise revenue.

But he says while quick, it's much harder on lower-income people.

See ...

Hopes Canterbury's aerospace sector will continue going from strength to strength, with a permanent test flight space confirmed at Tawhaki. 

The National Aerospace centre, west of Banks Peninsula, can now hold tests without continual re-permits. 

Tāwhaki executive director John Holt told Heather du Plessis-Allan this helps remove red tape and paperwork, adding that it's difficult in the early construction stages, to find ...

There’s a strong chance that this has been Moana Pasifika's best and last season in super rugby. 

Do you want them to have another one? 

And if so, how much should the taxpayer put in to save it? 

Would you pay $7million? Because that’s apparently what they’re short. 

The Whānau Ora money is gone and it's understood that Sky is pulling its sponsorship of half a million dollars a year. 

World rugby also want...

New data shows Nigel Farage and the Reform Party would win more seats than Labour and the Conservatives in the next general election.

Political analysts have revealed that Farage and Reform would win 278 seats if a general election were to take place tomorrow - the most of any party. 

UK correspondent Enda Brady says the next election is four years away - but Prime Minister Starmer's team should be taking this data into accoun...

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

We recently found out Whānau Ora funding has been used to fund Moana Pasifika. What do we make of this?

15-storey apartment buildings will soon go up in some Auckland suburbs near strategic train stations - and the locals aren't happy. Are the detractors being NIMBY...

How disappointing is the revelation that Whānau Ora money has been used to fund the Moana Pasifika rugby team? 

How disappointing is that?

And this is not a criticism of the team. I mean, the team has been one of the rockstar stories of the Super Rugby season. This is about the funding.

This is the kind of revelation, I reckon, that does huge damage to public confidence and Government use of taxpayer money.

Because t...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 June 2025, Labour MP Willie Jackson reflects on the sudden death of his friend and Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp.

Should taxpayer money be used to pay for a rugby team? Heather dives into the Moana Pasifika story with NZ Herald senior journalist Kate MacNamara.

The drug that made Oprah skinny is coming to New Zealand from next week. Novo ...

Workers taking part in partial strikes could soon have their pay docked under new legislation coming out of Parliament.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden recently confirmed the changes to the Employment Relations Act - and claimed they would be fairer for workers.

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says employers will now be allowed to dock 10 percent of pay for workers who participate in low-level stri...

Concerns have been raised after Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union cancelled a series of Saturday matches.

The provincial union made the call after the abuse of a referee at last Saturday's game between Kapiti College and Mana College, which saw him escorted to his car out of safety fears.

NZ Rugby's Mike Hester says there was abuse from spectators that prompted the match getting called off.

"A lot of these things can happen on the side...

The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise faces questions over disclosure and transparency at ownership level.

It recently came to light that the team received taxpayer money indirectly through Whanau Ora contracts.

NZ Herald journalist Kate McNamara says it's unclear how much public money funded the team - but investigations are ongoing.

"It may be that all of their funding came from the Whanau Ora contract - but it may be that the...

Labour's Willie Jackson will attend Kemp's tangi in Taihape over the weekend. 

 Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died today aged 50, following a battle with kidney disease.

He says Labour isn't thinking about the by-election triggered in Tāmaki Makaurau.

"We'll turn our mind to it next week - and we don't mind having a chat about it as we get into it. But it's not something we should probably be talking about at...

Not everyone's a fan of Government's efforts to build taller in central Auckland suburbs.

The Government is requiring the council to legislate for apartments at least 15 storeys high around the Mount Eden, Kingsland, and Morningside Stations.

It will be 10 storeys near the Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue terminals. 

Albert-Eden Local Board Chair, Kendyl Smith, says this feels rushed, and hasn't included any consultation with r...

The jury in the trial of triple-murder accused Erin Patterson is edging towards beginning deliberations in Australia's Victoria.

The 50-year-old also faces a charge of attempted murder over a toxic beef Wellington lunch she served to her estranged husband's family in 2023.

She maintains her innocence - claiming it was a terrible accident.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Justice Christopher Beale has left clear instruction...