Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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 basically torment fellow Kiwis, and then be rewarded by his mates with a job that was funded by Kiwis. Now Winston's trying to spin this like he's bringing Trevor Mallard home early. He's actually not really at all. Trevor's due home in January. It's understood that he's gonna be back in November. Whoop dee doo- two months early in a three-year term is hardly a punishment or a massive recall, isn't it? I mean, if Winston wanted to bring him home early, he could have brought him home at any point in the last two years that he's been the Foreign Minister. But I will agree with Winston on something here, which is that I think we have got to stop appointing politicians to diplomatic jobs. He says full stop - I say as a reward. I still think that there will be some politicians who are exceptional and who deserve these jobs because they would do an excellent job representing us. And I've always thought it was a pity that Helen Clark never got a posting overseas. But often, they're just lousy at it, aren't they? I mean, Phil Goff stuffed up. He had to come back. Jonathan Hunt embarrassed us by wanting to claim the pension in the UK when he was already on a very good wicket from us. Kevin Rudd - the Australian version of all of this - got sent to Washington by the Aussies and then embarrassed them by posting weird stuff about Trump before Trump became President again, then having to go back through his social medias and delete it all. Being a politician doesn't necessarily make these people good diplomats, and Trevor Mallard is absolutely an example of that. He has never been accused of being diplomatic. In my opinion, the only reason that he ever got this gig in Ireland is because his daughter lives in Ireland, and because he was some sort of an avuncular figure to Grant and Jacinda and Chippy, who were in Government when he was appointed. That is not a good reason to send someone to an Ambassador's job. It's not a good reason to get a job that you and I are paying for. So as Winston says, carnival's over - good thing too. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 plants at the moment. That's from the top of the north to the bottom of the south." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the house behind me. But everything else - the face, the lip movements, the voice, obviously - I can't tell." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 you want to know what's coming next, because the changeability of this particular President is rampant. Which means tomorrow, it could be a different approach altogether." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, cross-subsidise themselves means that the smaller players aren't getting a fair deal. These rules will stop them doing that, and as a result, we'll see more competition." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Parliament should have raised concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia would not accept people travelling to cause division. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues are poised to head across town to Mount Smart for two Super Rugby games next year. The New Zealand Herald reports the Blues are still planning to play most of their games at their usual Eden Park base, but are looking closely across town. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 gap' among Kiwi students. "This is for those children that are in Years 6 to 8, who will not have all of the benefits of those things coming through primary." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 his EU-leader bodyguards. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals the PM has called a high-powered meeting on energy security this evening. Why does the bike lobby want to get rid of the helmet mandate? Patrick Morgan from the Cycling Action Network explains. Plus, on the Huddle, Trish and Josie debate whether they would go on a working holiday in their 40s.   Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of the markets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 leaders realize that this is more important, because they're coming with Zelenskyy. You've got Keir Starmer of the UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany and a whole bunch of others - and they're going to be Zelenskyy's hype squad at the White House to try to stop Trump bullying him, which is actually fair enough after what happened last time. But I have to be honest, I find Europe endlessly frustrating over Ukraine. I mean, here they are dropping everything to rush over to Washington with Zelenskyy, to presumably stop Trump from taking too much of Ukraine's land away from them. But where was this haste in dropping everything and helping Ukraine to stop Putin taking Ukraine's land away from them? These European guys have absolutely supplied weapons, but the spend, when you look at it, has actually been tiny. I mean, they make such a song and dance about the fact that Ukraine has to hold the line otherwise Putin will come for them next. But then they hardly actually help Ukraine to hold the line. For a war that threatens them, Germany has put in less than 0.2 percent of GDP. The UK, much the same. France, less than 0.1 percent of GDP. And a few weeks ago, you'll remember they had the idea of putting European boots on the ground in Ukraine. They formed the Coalition of the Willing and it was all go - and then it never happened. No boots ever arrived. Now, those boots might actually have been helpful to Ukraine in being able to fight Putin off.  And so it is somewhat rich that these leaders who are not prepared to actually really help Zelenskyy hold the line against Putin now suddenly want to help him hold the line against Trump. I mean, they are probably right, Putin probably does want Ukraine and then more afterwards, and forcing Zelenskyy to give up land only delays the problem and doesn't solve it, because Putin will just come for more later on. But what other option does Zelenskyy have right now? Because he cannot keep fighting like this if Europe won't actually help him fight, other than just giving him a few nice words in a hype squad. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the White House tomorrow. How do we think this meeting will go?  David Seymour reportedly asked the Ministry for Regulation to look into removing bike helmet requirements. Should we change the rules?  Will any of us be reading Grant Robertson's book? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is defending the Government's move to scrap the Cook Strait mega-ferries - and claimed costs would have blown out on the original project. The Hyundai dockyard contracted to build the boats has received a total $222 million for the canned project, which includes a net $144 million final settlement. $300 million had been provisioned. Nicola Willis says the plans were not progressing well - and they were tied up in all sorts of additional complications.  "There was a very reasonable reality that the port side of the infrastructure would not have been built in time for the ferries to have arrived, and that, therefore, they wouldn't have been able to be used." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accommodation company's pitching for raising the working holiday visa age from 30 to 50. Lylo managing director Tim Alpe wants restrictions eased to attract more people, pointing to the struggle still faced by tourism.  He says lifting the age would provide flexibility for older people keen to try something new. Alpe says it'd have no downside.  "I just think that by limiting it to 30 or 35, we aren't that competitive with Australia and Canada - who are killing it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business spokesperson is encouraging Northland retailers to keep contacting police over smaller crimes.  The Northland Chamber of Commerce says business owners across the region aren't calling in shoplifting because they don't think police will turn up.  But CEO Leah McKerrow explained that even if officers can't respond - the data still goes into the system.  "And while each incidence in its own right feels small, collectively we're starting to get a pattern." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European leaders are flocking to the White House to present an iron-clad defence of Ukraine's interests.  The US is scaling up pressure for the war-battered Ukraine to agree to terms with Russia for ending the war, after this past weekend's Alaska summit.  This could involve ceding territory to Russia, including Crimea - and ending its pursuit of NATO membership.   Ukraine's Ambassador to New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, says NATO would provide security guarantees, and possibly boots on the ground.  He also explained we need to create conventional strategic weapons, other equipment and a strong army to deter Russia from future invasions.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's aiming to lift the burden of covering the costs of defective building work from councils. It plans to replace the consent framework with a scheme making each party only responsible for their share of work. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk claims councils fearing liability for defects are hesitant to sign off on consents and inspections. He says this follows discussions with the sector. "Now we'll be able to get that legislated - and in the meantime, spend time getting that detail right about what those measures should be." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's justifying his noted absence from a global meeting on Ukraine, due to the time difference.  Coalition of the Willing members gathered for virtual talks overnight, to embolden President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a meeting at the White House, for a number of them.  Many leaders attended, including Australia, France and the UK. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon was invited to attend the discussion - and officials joined the call in his place.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One man is dead and another is in hospital with serious wounds following a shooting outside a Sydney pub yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Harold Park hotel on Ross Street in Forest Lodge in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday evening.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says investigations are ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second half lapse will go under the microscope for the All Blacks following their 41-24 Rugby Championship win over Argentina in Cordoba. Despite leading 31-10 at the break, New Zealand allowed Los Pumas to score two converted tries and close the gap to seven in a trying 20 minute period and had two yellow cards. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cyclist group says it's worth looking into changing helmet laws, following the release of a new report. Newstalk ZB has revealed the Regulation Ministry has advised its Minister the risks of not requiring the protective measures would outweigh any benefits. David Seymour asked it to look into dumping the rule. Cycling Advocates Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan says Seymour made the wrong call to drop this, as helmets put people off. "If we're trying to solve the problem of inactivity, which we know is killing more than 2,000 people a year in New Zealand, you'd want more people to be active. Anything that's a barrier to cycling - we should look at removing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 15 August 2025, Rail Minister Winston Peters speaks to Heather about the eye-watering cost of breaking our ferry contract with Hyundai. Heather gets hot under the collar about the new rules for hospital cafeterias. Can we actually expect a deal to be struck when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet tomorrow? Former chief of staff to Marco Rubio, Matt Terrill, speaks to Heather. Plus, the Sports Huddle takes a punt at the result for the first All Blacks-Argentina test. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has once again extended the deadline to reach a trade deal with China.  The deadline that was due to end today has now been pushed back by 3 months.  Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this extension is, ‘kicking the can down the road.’   He says that the two countries' trade principles are making it harder to find a middle ground. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is due to meet with Vladimir Putin at 7:30am NZST to discuss the war in Ukraine.  This will be the first time the pair have met since Helsinki in 2018, and the first time the Russian President has visited the States in more than a decade.  Marco Rubio’s former chief of staff and managing partner of Firehouse Strategies Matt Terrill told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this meeting is a ‘major step’ towards a ceasefire.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave and Andrew Gordy join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.  What will north shore golfers do without Takapuna Golf Club? And what should we make of our top netball players running overseas? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland council wants to go ahead with its plans to cut Takapuna Golf Course in half - turning it into a 9-hole course. This plan will transform half of the club into a wetland to help with any future floods.  Despite opposition from big-name members at the club such as Lydia Ko and Ryan Fox, alternative options to this plan have been rejected. Takapuna Golf Club member Phil Jaggard says the club will, 'take a moment to digest this information.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I don't know what kind of psychosis has taken hold of the bureaucrats at Health New Zealand, but you want to see these rules that they've put out about the food and what food is allowed and what food is banned from the hospital cafeterias. It is ridiculously, ridiculously prescriptive. So what they've done is they, they, they put out, because they like wasting their time on nonsense, they've put out their new national food and drink policy. And it's divided food into three categories. You've got the green category, that's the good stuff. You've got the amber category, that's a bit naughty, but OK, and you've got the red category and that's banned. So what you are allowed to eat when you go to the hospital cafeteria is chicken.  But without the skin on. So that you're basically left with the saddest, driest chicken breast known to man. Yum, enjoy yourself. Beef and pork, that is allowed, but the staff have to trim the visible fat off, and they have to drain the fatty drippings, which completely ignores the modern research that shows actually meat fat is not that bad for you, and maybe you need it.  You are allowed to have a quiche, but it must have no crust. You are allowed a vegetable slice or an egg cup, but they must contain vegetables. A pie is OK, but only if it's smaller than 210 g, and only if it has a potato top. What I've just described to you is basically the green category.  That is the only food that they're allowed to display to us. Everything else must not be within your eyesight, cause God only knows what's gonna happen if you clap your eyes on a muffin. The green category must make up 55% of the food at the hospital cafeteria. Amber foods, things you're allowed to eat but not allowed to see, include things like muffins and loaves and slices. They must all be under 120 g, savory pies must be under 210 g, not on display. Nacho chips, white bread, Doughboys, wraps, and pizza bases. They are allowed to have icing on the sweeter things, but they're only allowed to have very little bit of icing, not a lot.  Red food, this is food that is recommended to be banned, includes marshmallows in your hot chocolate.  Thick icing, chocolate covered food, food containing confectionery, like rocky roads, lolly slices, pebbles, wontons.  Oh, that's not actually got lollies in it, but it also includes wontons, money bags, spring rolls, commercially flavored rice, pasta, noodles, and deep fried items. Now, I don't know what, what this tells you about Health New Zealand, but I'm gonna guess that they've either lost the plot or whoever made these rules has decided to run the cafeteria in the spirit of a communist dictatorship, where adults must have every aspect of their lives controlled for them.  The fact that we are adults and can decide for ourselves what we should or should not eat is clearly not been factored into this equation.  Some of us actually enjoy to have the fat on the meat, very much. Some of us like to eat the skin on our chicken. Hospitals, do I need to remind you are grim. Going to the cafeteria to buy a treat for yourself or perhaps your dying loved 1 may be the only thing that that person has in the day that brings them a little bit of joy.  Now, the thing is, Health New Zealand can go ahead with this if they want to.  It's their cafeteria after all. Problem with their little dictatorship plan is they only control their tiny little communist state. They do not control.  The gigantic capitalist market outside of it. So I don't know about you, but as a an adult who can decide for myself, I suspect I will be bringing in my brioche, dripping in gigantic slabs of icing and just eating it on their premises. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand's changing up hospital cafe menus in the name of a good diet.  Its fresh National Food and Drink policy reduces processed foods, and the portion sizes for things like slices and scones.  Food will need lower saturated fats and added sugar - examples include skinless chicken and fish.  Public Health Service Director Doctor Nick Chamberlain says it would be a bad look if hospitals didn't have healthy food guidelines. Chamberlain says they're trying to provide guidance, which still gives a huge amount of choice.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ says food inflation was back up five-percent for the year to July. The heftiest increases include butter rising 42-percent, cheese 29, and produce climbing more than seven. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says other essentials like milk, steak, and mince are also going up. Olsen says food price inflation probably won't impact next week's Reserve Bank announcement, but it is uncomfortable for households.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rail Minister Winston Peters is disputing the reported final cost of dumping the mega-ferries project which sits at $671million dollars.  Peters argues the 449-million for infrastructure, project management, and wind-down costs isn't all lost, with elements still being used.  Settlement for cancelling the contract with a Hyundai shipyard for the two new inter-island ferries cost 144-million-dollars.  It brings the total paid to the boat builders, to 222 million.  He says that was actually lower than the 300-million originally provisioned.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has begun looking in to allowing more foreign investors to by homes in New Zealand.  Currently in discussion is the proposal to loosen the active investor visa and allow investors to purchase a property.  Although discussion is in early days, a decision is expected to be made soon.  Barry Soper told Heather duPlessis-Allan, ‘you would expect that a decision would be made clear by our cabinet in the coming weeks.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow.  This is the first time a Russian leader has been on US soil in more than a decade.   Donald Trump has made it clear on many occasions that he wants to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.  US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley  told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, “He wants to be seen as a peacemaker president.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Minister's promising the right to protest is being protected - as the Government moves to outlaw action outside people's homes. Its new Bill would create a new offence for engaging in a targeted and disruptive demonstration outside a residence. It would carry a maximum fine of two-thousand dollars, or three months in jail.  Paul Goldsmith says New Zealanders value the right to protest, and also value privacy He says they're dealing with issues targeted at individuals and personal residences. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to have their summit soon, but experts have voiced concerns about what this could mean for Ukraine. European leaders appeared cautiously optimistic after holding a virtual meeting with Trump ahead of the pair's meeting in Alaska, with the US President saying his goal was to obtain a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacks the mood ahead of the meeting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and AUT Chancellor Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Israel has hit back at Chris Luxon's comment that Netanyahu has 'lost the plot'. What does this mean for the overall Gaza situation?  Should the Royal Commission of Inquiry summons the ex-Ministers? Do you think the teachers are misjudging the public mood with their strike? Or do we have patience for their demands? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crimson Education head Jamie Beaton has set his sights on a new business venture. Concord Visa is an immigration consultancy project designed to streamline how startups and talent access new markets. Beaton explained how this venture would help people reach new oppurtunites. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has released its annual Stock Number Survey for the year ending 30 June 2025. The data shows New Zealand’s total sheep numbers fell modestly by 1 percent, and beef cattle numbers rose 4.4 percent.   The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter is set to wrap up his 12-year term, and he's gotten some criticisms in about central Government before the end. Baxter says the rhetoric directed at local Government is doing 'way more harm than good' and more teamwork is needed. "I think it's about time that central Government and local Government work together rather than throwing barbs at each other." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think what many of us are experiencing right now, re: Jacinda, Grant, Chippy and Ayesha not fronting publicly for the COVID inquiry is not disappointment, because disappointment requires us to have had a higher expectation of them. And I don't think that we did, because I think we got the measure of these people a long time ago. I think what we're experiencing right now is a sense of injustice, because these people had the power, and they used that power to do things to our lives that no other politicians in the history of this country have done. They told us not to leave our homes, they shut the border so that we couldn't leave the country or come back in. They ended some businesses through their rules, they effectively forced people out of jobs for not taking a vaccine that I would say most of us don't even bother with now. Now, we can argue about whether any of that or all of that was justified, but I don't think we can argue about how massive that was. It was huge, unprecedented power. Now, with power comes responsibility and accountability - and that's where they're letting us down because they are refusing to be held accountable, even if just in answering questions in front of us, for us to be able to see it. Now, right or wrong, their actions during Covid caused so many people to lose faith in Government. This was their chance, I think, to restore that a little bit. Instead, what they're doing is they're causing us to lose even more faith in Government. If these people ever tell themselves or us that they are here to serve, it is utter BS. They're not here to serve. If they were, every single one of them would put their country's expectations of answers ahead of their own ambitions, but they're not. It's more important for Jacinda to keep managing her brand and living her best international life of glamour. More important for Grant Robertson to keep pulling in that $630,000 a year at Otago. More important for Chippy to try to have another go - deluded - at being Prime Minister again and more important for Ayesha to preserve whatever credibility she has left as a health academic. But they should know, they can delay accountability, but they cannot prevent accountability. And they will be held accountable. Maybe through a future Commission of Inquiry one day or maybe just through the history books that eventually trash their reputations like history has trashed so many other politicians, including Muldoon's. Either way, add to the long list of unpleasant things that we've learned about them, we can now add cowardice to that list too. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 August 2025, should the Royal Commission into Covid reconsider summonsing ex-Ministers Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and co? Constitutional lawyer Graeme Edgeler reveals what he thinks could happen next. Israel's deputy foreign Minister Sharren Haskel speaks to Heather about Chris Luxon's call that Netanyahu has 'lost the plot'. Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Heather speak about the future of armed police officers after police shot two people overnight, one of them died. The overseas-born Kiwi dad on the bureaucratic nightmare getting his kids citizenship - and why he thinks those with Maori ancestry should be fast-tracked. Plus, the Huddle reacts to the Israeli foreign Minister - and are teachers losing the room with their strike next week? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no shortage of stories where customers go crazy for free giveaways at the supermarket - and one expert has revealed why this is the case. Between coffee shops offering a free drink after you've bought 10 or beauty retailers handing out samples if you spend enough, research has explained this is all another marketing trick to hook people in. University of Canterbury marketing professor Ekant Veer says people like to feel like they've won things, especially if they're free. "We feel like we're getting rewarded for our loyalty or rewarded for our good behaviour, and then it's going to work for us. We're going to get that little dopamine hit."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister's steadfast in condemning Prime Minister Luxon for saying her leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, has lost the plot over Gaza.  Chris Luxon made the comment yesterday and says he's voicing a global sentiment. Sharren Haskel posted saying New Zealand's worst enemies are cats and possums, so it can't understand the threat from Hamas. Today, she says she stands with Netanyahu on Gaza - and it's the UN that's failed.  "And no matter how much we've been trying to work together, the Secretary General of the UN will turn it into a political issue." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he'd never second-guess an officer's actions during a police incident.  Multiple investigations are taking place after an officer shot two people after a domestic dispute. An officer shot a man carrying a hunting knife, with fears he'd seriously injure a woman. The officer then shot the woman dead, when she threatened officers.   Mark Mitchell says he feels for the officer.  "My thoughts go out to those police officers and their families, they have my full support. It is a police officer's worst nightmare to be placed into a situation like that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A constitutional lawyer says the Royal Commission of Inquiry has the power to summons ex-ministers to front for its Covid enquiry.  It's called off its second week of hearings after Chris Hipkins, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall declined to appear.  It says it shouldn't diminish the inquiry - as all have privately given evidence. Lawyer Graeme Edgeler says the Commission just needs to consider if it'll miss out on key information without a summons. "If the answer to that was yes, then they should exercise it. They seem to think at the moment that they don't need need to have the summons, but it's something they have in their back pocket." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon is defending saying Israel's leader has 'lost the plot' in the face of pushback. The Prime Minister criticised Benjamin Netanyahu over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people are starving. Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister responded that Luxon can't comprehend the challenges of facing Hamas. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Luxon's put his own views out there - in a change of pace from factoring in Winston Peters and David Seymour.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese has hit back against Hamas propaganda' after the Islamist group put out statements overnight welcoming his pledge to recognise Palestinian statehood. Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef claimed he welcomed the 'political courage' of the Australian Labor Government in an earlier statement. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this situation has prompted additional concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silver Fern Maddy Gordon has revealed the ANZ Premiership's uncertain future played a major role in her decision to leave the Central Pulse after seven years and three titles. The 29-test midcourter's joining the Queensland Firebirds in next year's Super Netball in Australia, following teammate Kelly Jackson. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.