Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Wellington City Council is being called on to review its rating system over fears increased rates are driving businesses out of the capital.

Newly released figures show Wellington’s average commercial rates bill is $47,881. That compares to $20,716 in Auckland, $18,059 in Christchurch, $24,768 in Hamilton, and $25,670 in Tauranga.

Director of The Wellington Company, Ian Cassels, says there's a lot of overspending going on - with 'e...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson has officially stepped down from the role. Are we surprised by this? How will he be remembered?

The Auditor-General has pointed out some very lavish spending by some school boards on parties, overseas travel, and building work. What do we m...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 June 2025, NZ Rugby's boss is calling it quits, and ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith has got the scoresheet on his performance.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says yet more action is coming on to crack down on the supermarket competition.

Heather reckons schools need to take a long hard look at themselves, after the Auditor General pointed out excessive spending incl...

Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Willis says the Michael Forbes situation is awful - but police have to have discretion. 

The Prime Minister's acting deputy press secretary quit last week, over allegations he took compromising recordings of sex workers and photos of women he didn't know.

Nicola Willis says these issues need to be managed well and she says the Department of Internal Affairs looking into the matter is positive. ...

Anyone who thinks that Mark Robinson resigning from New Zealand Rugby today is a shock clearly doesn't follow rugby's dramas with their brain fully turned on.

This was not a shock at all. Anyone could see this coming.

This was coming the minute that David Kirk took over as the chair.

Now, I don't want to be seen to be saying that David Kirk forced him out. It is, in fact, quite possible that Mark Robinson just read the ro...

The author of an alternative Jacinda Ardern biography says his book's different - because he's spoken to people across politics. 

The Former Prime Minister's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, hit shelves last week. 

David Cohen says he's writing his own book, backed by alternative news website, the Centrist.

He expects it'll be out later this year.

He says he's proud of the fact it brings in a multitude of voices - which...

Mark Robinson's underlined dealing with Covid-19 as the biggest challenge of his tenure as New Zealand Rugby chief executive.

Robinson will stand down at the end of the year, to move to Australia with family.

He was only three weeks into the job in 2020 when the pandemic hit - shutting down the game.

Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says this is the right move.

"There's clearly a movement for change in New Zealand Rugby,...

Auckland home values have fallen, down nine percent on CVs released in 2021.

New capital values are being released tomorrow for 630,000 properties, with inner-city suburbs taking a bigger hit.

Central Auckland areas - including Mount Eden and Maungakiekie - fell about 13 percent.

Auckland Council Group CFO, Ross Tucker, says a few reasons have driven the slump.

"We've seen apartments fall 12 percent, converted flats fall 12 percent...

The Green Party is speaking out over Israel stopping a civilian yacht carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli forces intercepted a yacht carrying prominent activists - including Greta Thunberg.

Its Foreign Ministry says they're safe, and the cargo will be taken to Gaza. 

But Green Party co-Leader Marama Davidson says that's not good enough.

"We want to see Israel stop shooting at innocent people lining up for a kai and we'r...

Labour’s Willie Jackson says Te Pāti Māori needs to compromise and focus on the main issues facing New Zealanders, like health and housing, following three MPs’ sanctioning in Parliament this week.

He’s also responded to comments from Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, the partner of Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi and the daughter of the party’s president, John Tamihere.

NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's clear Labour...

The Australian Government is set to make some tax changes - and it's got people worried about the future.

Labor is looking to double the levy for to 30 percent for people with at least $3 million in their superannuation, with experts claiming at least 80,000 Australians will be impacted.

Australian correspondent Sam Emery says there's plenty of vocal opposition to these changes.

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Federated Farmers has launched a petition calling for KiwiSaver rules to be changed to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder.

The petition’s launch has been timed to coincide with Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek.

Federated Farmers' banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says farming is very capital intensive and young farmers need a boost in the name of fa...

I've been thinking overnight about the news yesterday that a second Christchurch school has decided to put the walls back up in their classrooms and abandon those modern learning barn style spaces that we were doing in favour of going back to the traditional single class. 

The school is Shirley Boys High. 

And then last year, Rangiora High School did the same thing. 

Something that Rangiora High School's principal sa...

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