Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and former Labour MP Stuart Nash joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Winston Peters confirmed Trevor Mallard is coming home from his post as Ambassador to Ireland. He says the appointment was a case of 'jobs for the boys'. Should former politicians ever become ambassadors?

What did we make of the scenes from the big White House meeting between...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 19 August 2025, Donald Trump's big meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders was a bit of a love fest - but are we actually any closer to peace in Ukraine?

Energy Minister Simon Watts gets a grilling from Heather over the Government's plan for our energy security.

AI deepfake scams are getting so good - even the people being imitated can't tell th...

So here's a little bit of happy news for anyone still feeling injustice over the petty way that Trevor Mallard turned the sprinklers on the Parliamentary protesters and made everything worse - he is coming home from his plum job in Ireland as the ambassador.

As Winston Peters says, quoting The Seekers - the carnival's over. And it's a good job too, because it was always deeply unfair that Mallard could behave like a child and basic...

Mercury Energy's earnings have fallen on the back of weaker renewable electricity generation, and its bottom-line profit has taken a hit.

The company's profit has plunged from $290 million to just $1 million, due to tough power generation conditions.

Despite this, Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton is hopeful ahead of another financial year.

"We're investing heavily in new power plants - we're investing about $1 billion in new power ...

Former economist and investment manager Gareth Morgan was caught off-guard by an AI deepfake using his voice and likeness, and he's warned people to be careful.

The investment scam made the rounds on Facebook and Instagram and encouraged Kiwis to invest in a vaguely-defined US-based scheme.

Gareth Morgan says his daughter showed him the scam - and it almost had him fooled. 

"The only giveaway is the backdrop, I don't recognise...

A foreign policy expert says it's not clear if Donald Trump can deliver peace in Ukraine.

The US President's hosted talks on ending the conflict with UK and European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump says he's working on holding two-and three-way talks with Russia and Ukraine. 

But American University's Gordon Adams says Trump doesn't have an actual strategy. 

"Hang on to your seatbelt if y...

There's Government confidence new energy sector regulations will pressure down power prices.

Under Electricity Authority rule changes, our big four power companies must charge everyone the same price for supplying energy.

It's to stop the big gentailers giving themselves power discounts - and getting a competitive edge.

Energy Minister Simon Watts says it levels the playing field.

"The fact that these big gentailers can, in effect,...

Speaker Trevor Mallard is returning early from Ireland - ending his job as Ambassador.

Winston Peters has appointed senior foreign affairs staffer Angela Hassan-Sharp to replace Mallard.

Peters claims Mallard's behaviour during the anti-mandate occupation at Parliament should've disqualified him from the role. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Mallard's behaviour during the anti-mandate occupation at...

The Australian federal government has cancelled the visa of Israeli politician Simcha Rothman days before he was set to arrive for a speaking event.

Rothman, whose party is part of  Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, previously advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and denied claims of starvation in the territory.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke claimed Austral...

The Minister of Education says much more needs to be done, as more Kiwi kids fall behind in school.

New data shows just 24 percent of Year 8 students have achieved the curriculum level in writing.

The Government's hoping to turn that around with a writing action plan, which includes tools for handwriting, literacy and reading for teachers and students.

Erica Stanford says the Government's new English curriculum aims to 'plug the ga...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's gearing up for his second meeting at the White house, but he won't be carrying this out alone.  

The leaders of the UK, France and Germany and the European Commission will be joining Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey spoke ahead of the meeting, and weighed up multiple possible outcomes.

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On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 18 August 2025, big changes are coming for building consents and who is liable when things go wrong. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk tells Heather some details still need to be ironed out.

Ukraine's Ambassador to New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko speaks to Heather ahead of the pivotal meeting between Donald Trump and Ukraine's president Zelensky and hi...

Financial results are coming in thick and fast.

a2 Milk is reporting a 21 percent rise in profit - alongside announcing it bought the Yashili plant in Pokeno.

It's also sold its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore - to Open Country Dairy.

Contact Energy's profit is up 13-percent, after a surge in geothermal generation, and Freightways' profit is up 12.9 percent.

Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacks the mood...

Mānuka honey exporter Comvita has received a takeover offer from a subsidiary of Christchurch billionaire Mark Stewart’s Masthead Limited - Florenz.

It's offering 80 cents a share, equalling $56.4 million.

The offer has received unanimous support from Comvita’s board and its two largest shareholders, which own a combined 18.3 percent stake.

Oliver Mander from the NZ Shareholders Association explains what this could mean going forwa...

So if anything, tonight's meeting at the White House is actually more important than Saturday's meeting was in Alaska - because this is the meeting with Zelenskyy.

This is the meeting where the guy who has been invaded has to spell out how much land he is prepared to give up to Putin. And that is a lot harder than what happened in Alaska, which was just Putin laying down his dream scenario.

And you can see that the European le...

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 to change the working holiday age limit from 30 to 50 to boost tourism. Is this a good idea? Would you go on a working holiday in your 40s? 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy - alongside a group of EU leaders - are set to meet with Donald Trump at ...