Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A 53-year-old Royal Marine will appear in court following the Liverpool Football Club parade crash.  Paul Doyle from Liverpool has been charged with seven offences relating to the crash in the city on Monday.  He's a father of three and a local business man.  Seventy-nine people were injured in the event.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the incident, potential water shortages in the UK and France's new smoking ban.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s offering the Pacific Island’s increased support. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has committed economic support in the Pacific’s fight against climate change. He says over the next three years, China will undertake 100 projects in parts of the region that have ties to China. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the commitment. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 30 May. 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.

Newstalk ZB’s Sport Director Clay Wilson and News Editor Elliott Smith join Heather du Plessis-Allan for The Huddle. ‘Run It Straight' has everyone talking this week after a teenager died while playing the game with friends. Should it be made illegal? What does The Huddle make of Andrew Webster’s call to remove the State of Origin from happening in the middle of the NRL season? What chance do the Warriors have this week? The Huddle discusses all this and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend marks the last day of Winnie and the first day of David Seymour as the Deputy Prime Minister. Now, mostly I don't actually care. I mean, I largely agree with Jim Bolger's assessment and, and obviously, happy 90th birthday to Jim for tomorrow. The role doesn't actually mean very much. It's symbolic. It doesn't carry any particular power other than really just letting you know who's second in command. But it feels like an appropriate time just to take a moment to acknowledge, because we don't do this very often, that it's actually very nice, isn't it, to have both of these two men in government right now, if only to give the Nats a little bit of a push along, you know, to actually do things from time to time. Winston strikes me right now as the right man for the right job for right now. Don't you think? With all this nutty stuff that's going on in the world, his huge previous experience as a foreign minister, I think, is reassuring. I feel like it's not going overboard to say that I trust his instincts in the job. When he gets angry with Israel, you know, it's not for politics, it's not for performance. It's because he's actually angry with Israel. Given his experience, that would be warranted. On David Seymour, if there's one thing that we can truly thank him for right now, it's shifting the Overton window so that we can, and now do debate things like the treaty principles. The Overton window is the available, is the, it covers the stuff that we feel comfortable talking about in the media and in society. He has shifted that, so principles are now firmly within the Overton window and we talk about it, and we should be able to debate it, because they should not be taboo. Things that have as much impact on our economy and our society and our lives as treaty principles, and as on our private property as well, should be up for discussion without critics of those things being labelled racist. And it is squarely because of ACT's policies that those discussion, those discussions are now out in the open. Now, I don't really expect very much to change after the weekend other than maybe we'll see more of both men, more of David Seymour because he'll be the deputy, and more of Winston because he'll not be the deputy, which means that he can act up a little bit, maybe. But either way, I think it's not a bad thing to have both of them in there at the moment, is it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the week that was. This week an internal police memo was leaked, which explained their plan to cease investigations on shoplifting allegations below $500.  Have we got to the bottom of it?  Winston Peters "permanently" ruled out working with Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Jason Walls explains how Peters left himself some "wiggle room" in doing so.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s defending their move to change a law which protects Australian banks from Kiwi customers. More than 15,000 mortgage holders could miss out on hundreds of millions in compensation for mistakes made by ANZ and ASB. Commerce Minister Scott Simpson talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the proposal. LISTEN ABOVE. lawyer on the proposed changes to NZ lending laws and the ensuing lawsuitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand foreign minister’s visited Nepal for the first time, more than 70 years since our countries were linked following the ascent of Mt Everest. Winston Peters flew from Kathmandu to the Everest region on Thursday, where he toured a school and a hospital created by the charity Sir Edmund Hillary founded in the 1960s. Sir Edmund Hillary’s grandson Alexander Hillary joined him and he speaks with Heather du Plessis-Allan now. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Timaru’s Seadown water supply has been crowned winner ofthe best tasting tap water in New Zealand. It was up against Waimakariri District Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Waipa and Taupo District Council. They were awarded bragging rights from a panel of judges at the National Water Taste Test competition last night. Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the win. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents will now be prosecuted if their kids aren’t attending school. It’s the latest in a move to crackdown on truancy in the country. The Ministry of Education will prosecute parents who repeatedly refuse to sed their children to school. Papatoetoe High Principal Vaughan Couillault talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the decision. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff has laid out his views on the war in Gaza, in an opinion piece for Stuff. In it he’s accused Israel of committing war crimes. He wants to see New Zealand separate itself from American foreign policy and is calling on the Government to impose immediate sanctions against Israel. Phil Goff talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the article and what he wants to see change. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour will tomorrow become New Zealand’s deputy Prime Minister, taking over from Winston Peters’ as part of the coalition agreement. But how much will change with him as second in command? Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the appointment, and the ACT MP calling on other politicians to support her bill. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a surprise ... many saw coming, Elon Musk has announced he is leaving his role in the United States Government. The billionaire's role was dedicated to reducing federal spending, work which became known as DOGE. He has complained that DOGE had become a “whipping boy” for dissatisfaction with the administration. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about his step away, a tariff update and the forever chemicals found in American beer. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Super Rugby playoffs are next weekend, will it be the Blues or Moana Pasifika that make it through? In another rugby news, rumours are swirling that Penrith Panthers player Nathan Clearly could be making the move away from NRL and into Union. Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about what to look forward to in sport this weekend. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new policy’s been voted in by Auckland Council which will see housing developers pay a much greater share of future infrastructure costs. The council’s looking to raise an extra six billion from developers to cover future infrastructure costs. Suburbs such as Redhills and Tamaki will have to up to pay three times as much as they did before – more than 70-thousand per new build. Head of strategy at Subdivide Simplified Troy Patchett talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the changes. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan face 21 combined charges in the UK, including rape, bodily harm and human trafficking. The Tates flew to the United States in February after Romanian prosecutors lifted a travel ban, flying back to Romania the following month to fulfil legal obligations. UK correspondent Elizabeth Callaghan says the pair will be extradited to the UK after their obligations in Romania have concluded. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A US federal court's blocked Donald Trump's global tariffs from going into effect - ruling the President overstepped his authority. The Court of International Trade says an emergency law invoked by the White House doesn't provide unilateral authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains what this means for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 29 May 2025, the Government has announced sweeping changes to RMA rules. RMA Minister Chris Bishop joins Heather in studio. Why Heather thinks we should give New Zealand born overstayers citizenship to allow them to work and stay here. The Government is passing a law that will protect the Aussie owned banks from a class action lawsuit from its Kiwi customers. Class action lawyer Scott Russell explains what's going on. Plus, the Huddle weighs in on Labour's Ginny Anderson's booboo. 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.

Fonterra is being cautiously upbeat about the future. The dairy co-op is forecasting a $10 farmgate milk price payout for the current season, and an earnings range of 65 to 75 cents a share. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, David Farrar from Kiwiblog and Curia and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Should we allow kids of overstayers to gain citizenship here after they turn 18 and can't work or study? Labour's Ginny Andersen raised a few eyebrows after making an incorrect statement on Wellington Mornings about the coalition. What do we make of this?  Elon Musk has officially left the White House. Are we surprised the first high-profile exit took this long?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport heavyweight Mainfreight has posted a solid full-year financial result, but international economic uncertainty is causing concerns. Annual net profit was up nearly a third on the previous year - to  $274.3 million compared to $208.7 million. Mainfreight General Manager Don Braid says the company's focused on business and what that means for customers around the world. "We'll do whatever we can to keep the supply chains open for them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised over cases where New Zealand-born teenagers fear being kicked out of the country for being illegal overstayers. A law change in 2006 removed the right to citizenship by birth for children born in New Zealand - but there's a wave of kids born after that date who are set to turn 18 and it's unclear what could happen to them. Immigration lawyer Alistair McClymont says he's representing some of these kids - who he feels are 'innocent' in this situation.  "They need to be separated from adults who make conscious decisions to remain in a country unlawfully. These kids don't make those conscious decisions. They're just born - that's it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following Lorde's recent pop-ups Washington Square Park in New York and a nightclub in Sydney, Kiwi fans were feeling hopeful they would be treated to a similar experience. Yesterday, Lorde let 96 Kiwi fans into an exclusive listening party at the YMCA on the corner of Pitt St and Vincent St in downtown Auckland. There were still hundreds of Kiwi fans lining up hoping to be let in - and Newstalk ZB producer Sam Robinson was among the crowds. "She's definitely for the audience that she's for - and I am that prime audience, I think a lot of people my age are that prime audience. If you were 14 when Pure Heroine came out...you're hooked for life." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slashing certain consenting laws, allowing more quarries and mining and reducing farming red tape all feature in the proposed Government reform of the Resource Management Act. The Associate Environment Minister has described current climate regulations as 'out of proportion' to the environmental risk. Consultation's opened until July 27. RMA reform minister Chris Bishop says the country needs more energy, renewables and infrastructure - and the Government hopes to send a clear message.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ginny Andersen raised a few eyebrows after making an incorrect statement on Wellington Mornings. Andersen was talking about the coalition arrangement - and claimed it was the only instance where ministers were included in the Cabinet room. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls noticed this was wrong - and cited some other examples. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Australian court has been shown a supermarket bill that allegedly led to a fatal mushroom lunch. Erin Patterson's accused of killing three former in-laws by serving them a meal allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. The trial has been running for five weeks. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the trial is still ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Tuipulotu believes his body can hold up to the rigours of three more years in New Zealand Rugby. The Blues captain and All Blacks lock has signed on until 2028, turning down offers from Japan. Tuipulotu has been an All Black since 2014 but has often been sidelined through injury - limited to just one World Cup in 2019. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyer Scott Russell says proposed changes to our lending laws only benefit Aussie banks.  The bill, currently before Select Committee, aims to lessen red tape for such things as adjusting credit limits and applying for credit cards.  Russell's representing 170,000 Kiwis in a class action against ANZ and ASB, and says the changes protect those banks.  He says they argue penalties under the law are a risk to the economy.  "That's just simply rubbish, there's no evidence of that and it seems the suspicion is, by many, that the law is just National helping out the Australian banks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French police have arrested at least 20 people following a number of kidnapping plots targeting  cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families. Authorities said the arrests were connected to investigations into a recent abduction attempt in Nantes - and another attempted kidnapping in Paris in May. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the investigations.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. The markets had already priced a rates cut in - but there was some uncertainty emerging after the announcement took place.  Milford Asset Management's Remy Morgan explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank delivered their quarterly update on the OCR - but there was a hawkish undertone this time round, according to experts. The central bank cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Despite this,  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny noted there were some concerns about the economic future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Government's latest OCR update was delivered this afternoon - what did we think of it? Are we getting dangerously close to 'stagflation' territory? Should we stop contributing so much to MPs' KiwiSavers? Movie theatres are seeing a revenue decline - do you still go to the movies? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some complex airline problems might be solved with another type of aircraft now operating in an Auckland warehouse. Air New Zealand has teamed up with Spark, Ericsson and Canadian firm Cypher Robotics to deploy a robot-tethered drone. The airline and the telco said they worked together to create New Zealand’s first private 5G network for business. Mark Beder, Spark New Zealand customer director for enterprise and government, says the size and height of the warehouse has presented challenges. "It's about how they can do this more efficiently and more effectively over time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 28 May 2025, the Reserve Bank has cut interest rates but things are much more uncertain for the future. Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told Heather it's significant that the Monetary Policy Committee didn't come to a unanimous decision. Hairdresser Hailey Ashton with her verdict on the new rules for hairdressers and barbers - and why she still won't let people bring their dogs to the salon. 86% of new homeowners have to call a tradie back in to fix something shortly after they move in. Master Plumber boss Greg Wallace tries to defend the tradies. Warehouse chair Dame Joan Withers on the Warehouse's new boss - and how she thinks the economy is going right now. Plus, the Huddle debates why we're not going to the movies anymore and whether we should top up our MPs Kiwisavers. 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.

I don't really want to have to start on a bum note, but if there is a thing that we do on the show, it's honesty. So let's be honest about it. What the Reserve Bank decision told you today is how much trouble our economy is in. If you're in business, you already know this and you don't need me to tell you this. I was talking to a couple of CEOs yesterday. They were telling me they cannot see the green shoots - we've been waiting. We were told - survive til '25, we're halfway through and we're still stuffed. Well, let me tell you what we got today. We got a 25 basis point cut. We needed 50 percent because that OCR is still too high. It's now sitting at 3.25 percent.  It's probably actively still dampening our economic growth because I think the consensus is that 3 is neutral, and we're not there yet. But they could not give us a bigger cut today. And even they must realize how much damage they're doing, because they themselves have admitted that the economy is even more stuffed than they thought it was as recently as February, when they last met. Back in February, they predicted that in the first quarter of this year, we would have seen growth of 0.6 percent. They have revised that down to 0.4. This quarter that we're in right now, they forecast that we would be growing at 0.6 percent. They just halved that to 0.3 percent.  Next quarter, they thought would be 0.5 percent. They've taken that down to 0.2 percent. That's not good. That's bad. And now, why couldn't they give us a bigger cut to help us along? Because they might set off inflation again if they do. We just saw a rise in inflation the other day, and there is potential for it to keep on creeping up. We've got dairy prices going up, we've got electricity prices going up, we've got rates going up - I could go on and on and on. The Budget that we just had last week is not super deflationary, is it? And their job at the Reserve Bank, remember, is not to help the economy grow. That is not their job. Their job is to contain inflation, and it's kind of borderline, and they can't take any chances there. Could we have a touch of the old stagflation back? No growth, prices going up? Feels a bit like that's a risk at the moment, isn't it? Now, I hope not, but 'I hope' is not a strategy. And yet, what else have we got left when even the Reserve Bank can't get out of the economy's way? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse Group has appointed a new CEO after a lengthy search to fill the role. Mark Stirton, who joined the company in April last year, will head the group from August 1. Chair Dame Joan Withers says Stirton has basically completed a one-year job interview - and has continued to impress the board. "Rather than just anoint someone internally, we went through that thorough process so that we could be absolutely confident we got the best possible person for the job." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lawyer's surprised police aren't taking investigations further, following the death of a Palmerston North teen playing a 'Run it Straight' game. 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a serious brain injury on Sunday participating in the sport - and died in hospital on Monday.  The tackling competition is big on social media. Lawyer Matt Goodwin says most people participating would know there's a serious risk of injury, even death. "So in assuming that risk, I think the question is whether it's something that's acceptable." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes poor financial results don't spell the final act for cinemas.  Revenue dropped for all the Hoyts, Reading and Event Cinemas chains in 2024.  Auckland's Capitol Cinema co-owner Roger Wyllie says the combination of Covid and the Hollywood writer's strike brought tough times. He says there are good movies out there - but interest is low.   "We've probably done 40 percent on pre-Covid with people coming through the door." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hairdresser says the industry has lots of 'silly little rules'. Cabinet has agreed to all the Ministry for Regulation's recommendations - allowing drinks and dogs if businesses want them. Rules about the spacing of chairs and how bright lights are will also be scrapped from July. Hairdresser Hailey Ashton says she's always offered tea and coffee, but she might decline to invite the pooches. "I've got clients I know are quite afraid of dogs - we've actually had someone bring their dog in, sit on their lap and then vomit all over our floor." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee revealed it failed to reach a consensus today - before they voted to cut the OCR 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. But Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says that's surprising. He explained that the fact someone is prepared to put their hand up and say they wouldn't support the move shows it was more a line-ball call than they were expecting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's brushing off criticism from Wellington's mayor. Speaking to Newstalk ZB today, the PM hit out at the city's cycleway rollout and water management - saying other cities are moving forward. Tory Whanau says Luxon should focus on coalition issues and the problematic Government's school lunch roll out, not punching down on the capital. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacked Tory Whanau's response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A message sent to the Trump administration - by King Charles from Canada's throne. The monarch has given the traditional throne speech to mark the opening session of Canada's parliament. As the US President speaks of his desire to annex Canada, the King's presence is seen as a show of sovereign support. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says King Charles and Canada were looking to send Trump a message, but not a direct call-out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has joined the chorus wanting a mid-season break in the NRL to play representative rugby league - and stop disruption to club sides. State of Origin - which gets underway tonight in Brisbane - saw 36 of the top players in the competition unavailable for selection over the weekend amid a truncated five-game schedule. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost everyone who moves into a new house needs to call back a tradie to deal with a defect, according to new reports. Data in the new BRANZ Build Insights dashboard shows that after they had moved in, 86 percent of new homeowners needed to call back their builder or other tradesperson to fix something after they've moved in. Greg Wallace, CEO of Master Plumbers, says tradies need to focus on getting things right the first time. "There is no benefit for a tradesman to go back and have, no charge to the consumer, to rectify a problem." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A horror car ramming at a Liverpool Football Club victory parade is not being treated as terrorism.  47 people were injured when a car ploughed into the crowd celebrating the Premier League title win - seriously injuring two, including a child.   A 53 year old British man from Liverpool has been been arrested.  UK correspondent Elizabeth Callaghan says tens of thousands were out on the streets celebrating - and the attack has been described as 'appalling'.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank tomorrow afternoon, when stand-in Reserve Bank Governor Christian Hawkesby delivers the bank's latest monetary policy statement. A 25 basis point cut to the OCR to 3.25 percent is taken as a given - but experts are wondering what the future path of interest rates will look like. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 Budget has come and gone, but the Finance Minister has confirmed raising the superannuation age was still on National’s radar after they campaigned on it in the last election. She's explained it was not on their mandates or the coalition agreement - but changes need to be phased in. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen weighed in on the ongoing debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Have police and the Government made a mistake saying every crime will be investigated after yesterday's controversial memo leak? Should they have tried to clarify? A teenager has died after a combative run it straight-style game with friends went wrong. Should we try and crack down on this - or is it too late?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 27 May 2025, Police Minister Mark Mitchell fronts up on the show to calm some nerves. Retailers are worried about a police memo that indicated police won't investigate shoplifting below a certain value. Tragedy in Palmerston North where a teenager has died after a run it straight type event. But is a ban the answer to preventing more harm? Labour leader Chris Hipkins responds to Winston Peters ruling out any NZ First-Labour coalition as long as Hipkins is the leader. Does that mean his days as party leader are numbered? Plus, the Huddle debates *that* shove from the French president's wife that was caught on camera. 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.

I think Winston Peters ruling out ever going into coalition with Chippy after the next election is actually more significant than many people will realize. Because Winnie was actually Chippy's only credible path back to being prime minister again. Without Winnie, Chippy is completely stuffed, because the alternatives are not real options. The alternatives are: One - being in a coalition with a couple of loony parties, which centre voters are absolutely not going to go for. So you can forget about that. The other is that Labour is returned as a majority Government again, which is, after what happened last time, not going to happen for a very long time again. So basically, there is no way back for Chippy. He will not be Prime Minister after 2026, if ever. Now a lot of people would say to me at this juncture - well of course not, National were always going to win the next election anyway, so this is just a completely spurious argument. But I would say to you is - Labour's chances are actually a little bit better than you might think, because what we have right now is hardly a wildly popular Government. These guys were elected, remember, telling us they were going to turn this economy around. 18 months later, they have not turned this economy around. 18 months later, we are still in the economic doldrums. We are yet to see a vision, economically, from the coalition Government, the right track, wrong track indicator that comes out in multiple polls now is heavily negative for this Government. Thousands of people are voting with their feet and leaving the country altogether.  People vote with their hip pocket, right? Forget about everything else. If you just look at the economy, that is your greatest determiner of what happens at the election. People vote with their hip pocket - and right now, the hip pocket is suffering, it is not looking good for the economy. But also, there should be a target right now on Chippy's back in Labour, because Winnie's problem is not with Labour. Winnie's problem is with Chris Hipkins, which means a different leader and Winston Peters is back in the game as a possibility for Labour. Now that requires Labour to roll Chris Hipkins and then their chances are good again. However, that requires Labour actually realizing that they need Winston Peters to form a coalition Government after 2026 - and that requires them also realizing there is no way they can coalesce with the Māori Party because most voters are allergic to the shenanigans that that party get up to. But I don't think Labour is smart enough to realize that yet, do you? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.