Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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.

He’s descended from a Treaty signatory, an All Black and the ‘Voice of New Zealand’, but John Bryers Ruddock can't get his kids New Zealand citizenship - so he's taking legal action. John himself was born overseas and was dismayed to discover there was no easy way to secure Kiwi citizenship for his US-born children, in part because he was born offshore. He says it would have been easier to get approved if he was coming in as a migrant - and it feels 'unconstitutional'. "Because I'm not on a visa or applying for a visa myself, they all get charged individually. So normally, say, if I had 20 kids and I was here on a visa or applying for my residence visa, it would cost me $3200 for being all my dependent children. But because I'm a citizen and not on a visa, they charge them individually." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of migrants to cross the English Channel in small boats since the Labour party came to power 13 months ago is expected to have reached 50,000.  The Government says it’s an 'unacceptable number of people' but pointed to the 'one in, one out' returns deal with France as a deterrent. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says opposition MPs have been quick to accuse the Government of 'surrendering the borders'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is moving to cut 20 percent of its staff in a bid to unwind the hiring spree by former Governor Adrian Orr. The restructure will see the net reduction on 142 roles, including 35 vacant positions. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson 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!  Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson have all declined to be interviewed publicly by the Covid inquiry. Should they have fronted? Did Chlöe Swarbrick deserve to get booted out of Parliament today? Should she have apologised? What did we make of Debbie Ngarewa-Packer dropping the C-word in Parliament?  The Education Minister is cutting Māori words from five-year-olds' school phonics books. Is this a bad look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US inflation held steady in July, with consumer prices rising 2.7 percent - depite the ongoing concerns around import tariffs. Figures are better than economists feared, but underlying pressures make the Federal Reserve's next move unclear. Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unionised secondary teachers who say kids' needs aren't being met in school will strike next week, nationwide. They'll step away from the job next Wednesday after rejecting a three percent pay increase over three years. The PPTA says experienced teachers will be crucial to successfully rolling out proposed Government NCEA reforms. President Chris Abercrombie says the teachers introduced a counter-offer, but it's up to the Government to do their part. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I can't blame you if your assessment of Parliament today is that it's become a circus, because what happened today is kind of hard to defend or even explain. Chlöe was kicked out, Brownlee suspended her for a week and all of the Government parties voted for that punishment - and that includes New Zealand First, before Winston Peters then got up to tell Jerry Brownlee that the punishment wasn't fair, even though he just voted for the punishment. And then Debbie got up and said the C-word again. Now, Chlöe did actually break the rules. I mean, this is another one of those seemingly arbitrary or hard to explain rules in Parliament - that MPs can't accuse each other of being cowards. Nick Smith did it in 2003, he accused MPs across the house of not having the spine to debate a vote. He withdrew and apologized. Steve Chadwick did it in 2007, she accused the opposition of being absolutely gutless and spineless. She withdrew and apologized. John Key did it in 2015, quite famously when he yelled at Labour to get some guts over the war, but he got away with it and actually probably shouldn't have. So Chlöe did break the rules. But then, Debbie got up and said the C-word, and she didn't break the rules. So explain that. How is accusing other MPs of being spineless worse than dropping the C-bomb in the House of Representatives? I mean, sure, one is aimed at someone and the other one is just a swear word that's been dropped. But when you get into explaining that level of nuance on offensiveness, I think you've lost the audience. Plus, why is Gerry Brownlee all of a sudden the tough cop?  I mean, this is the guy who was wringing his hands over the Māori Party getting kicked out of Parliament for 3 weeks for the haka in David Seymour's face and for refusing to turn up to the Privileges Committee and for them leaking the recommended punishment from the Privileges Committee. But when Chlöe says basically the same thing that John Key once said without punishment, Jerry comes down on her like a ton of bricks. Frankly, none of this makes sense anymore. I mean, it does on a level of detail and minutia, sure, but explaining it to a normal person, no sense whatsoever. But guess who's loving this? Chlöe's loving this, because Chlöe's learned from Te Pāti Māori and the haka that there's one surefire way to get attention, and that's to break the rules of Parliament and not be sorry. What a circus. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 13 August 2025, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and other former Labour Ministers have declined to give evidence at a public Covid inquiry. National's Chris Bishop says it's "disgraceful". Drama in Parliament, with Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick kicked out of the House for the second day in a row. Former Speaker Sir David Carter says Gerry Brownlee is right to crack down on MPs misbehaving. Bad news if you have kids at secondary school. Teachers are going on strike next Wednesday and PPTA president Chris Abercrombie tells Heather just how big a payrise they're after. Kiwi woman Sarah Shaw is still in a US detention centre with her 6-year old. Her lawyer speaks to Heather. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Chloe Swarbrick deserved her suspensions - and whether the ex-ministers should front up to the Covid inquiry. 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.

Education Minister Erica Stanford has received some backlash by excluding most Māori words from five-year-olds' school phonics books. A Ministry of Education report shows Stanford decided to exclude all Māori kupu - except characters' names - last year, out of concern it would confuse children. Canterbury University's professor Gail Gillon helped develop the phonics readers. She says confusion doesn't appear to be an issue.  "The evidence that we have would suggest that our five-year-old children are coping very well with the inclusion of just a few kupu Māori in these early readers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Embassy staff have made contact with Sarah Shaw - the Kiwi woman being detained along with her son at a US immigration facility. The pair were detained on the Canadian border three weeks ago. Shaw's lawyer Minda Thorward says she's using every legal process she can to get the pair out - but it's ultimately up to DHS. "We're hoping that they're just going to release her and her son later this week - although they may still remain in proceedings. But we're still just waiting to find out what's going to happen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Current and former Labour leaders and ministers deciding not to appear at the Royal Commission's Covid inquiry is being described as 'disgraceful'.  Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson and Ayesha Verrall, who were all involved in Covid decisions - have declined invitations to appear.  They say it would have been performative - not informative - and there's a risk livestream recordings could be manipulated and misused.  National MP Chris Bishop says they should front up because New Zealanders deserve answers over the scale of Covid spending, which is still having impacts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was drama and controversy in the House today, after Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick doubled down and refused to apologise for saying MPs with spines would act on Gaza. Swarbrick has since been booted from Parliament for not apologising. Former Speaker Sir David Carter says he should have asked Prime Minister John Key to withdraw - when he told the Opposition to 'get some guts' in 2015. "In hindsight, when you get a chance to review the tape and hear it again - yes, I would have asked him to withdraw and apologise. I would have settled the House down if I'd done that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was drama in Parliament today after Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick doubled down and refused to apologise for comments made yesterday. She was kicked out of the House for again not apologising for saying Government MPs with a spine should support sanctioning Israel more over Gaza. She was 'named', which means her pay will be docked. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says everyone's talking about Chlöe Swarbrick's conduct, which is what she wanted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's uncertainty over how Donald Trump's dialling up of law enforcement in Washington DC will play out.  The President has placed the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, and has deployed roughly 800 National Guards. US correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says local authorities have claimed Trump's measures to crack down on crime in DC aren't necessary - and that violent crime is at a 30-year low. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have re-signed Te Maire Martin for the 2026 season, ending speculation on his future at the NRL club. Martin had been shaping for a move away from the Warriors earlier in the year, but has proven invaluable in recent times as a 'Fix-it man' in the side ravaged by injuries. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls among Auckland business leaders to get the city's economy going again. According to the latest Stats NZ data, Auckland’s 6.1 percent unemployment rate for the June 2025 quarter was the highest of any region and above the national rate of 5.2 percent. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says the Government needs to find a solution to get the city moving again. "We're talking to people on the street, businesses who have struggled through 10 years...they need people, they need customers, they need people here and events are a proven way of doing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Vice President JD Vance and his family have taken a trip to the Cotswolds - and his extensive security detail have raised some eyebrows among the locals. The 20-vehicle convoy has prompted some backlash from the residents. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Green MP Gareth Hughes and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Minister Shane Jones is looking into rationing gas - do we think this is a realistic idea? Do we need to recognise the state of Palestine now - or is the Government right to wait? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meat processor Alliance Group says Dawn Meats is lining up to pay $250 million for a 65 percent stake in the meat co-op. Alliance, a farmer-owned co-operative and New Zealand’s biggest sheep meat exporter, said the deal would give it an enterprise value of $502 million. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark New Zealand is selling 75 percent of its data centre business for about half a billion dollars. Australian-owned Pacific Equity Partners is taking the controlling share of the $705-million-dollar business. Spark will move its data centre assets and operations into a new stand-alone company. Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith explains what this could mean for the business. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 12 August 2025, is the Government about to ration our gas usage? Resources Minister Shane Jones speaks to Heather. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour explains why the Government is taking its time before it recognises Palestine as a state. There are calls to urgently help a Kiwi mum and her son who have been held in US immigration detention for almost three weeks. Heather speaks to her friend to find out how desperate the woman's situation is. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Commodore David Blakey explains the huge rule changes coming for the next America's Cup. Plus, the Huddle debates whether National should roll Chris Luxon. 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.

A growing number of businesses are reporting losses and economists have voiced concerns. IRD data shows that in the 2023 tax year, 107,360 companies out of 475,010 reported a current loss. Another 40,670 were carrying a loss over from a previous tax year. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says these figures are consistent with the current deterioration of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm happy to report to you that it looks like some of us want to play the old 'should Luxon be rolled' game. In the wake of the not-so-great polls that came out yesterday, there is a column by Andrea Vance - who I am name-checking because she's good and credible, and not just some junior reporter with an opinion. In her column, she predicts that Luxon is in trouble, that his caucus is getting impatient, that speculation about his leadership has reached fever pitch - and that if it doesn't improve, she is not sure that he's going to be the one leading the National Party at election time this time next year. Now, if this is really what National MPs are considering, they should ditch that idea immediately because Luxon's not their problem. I mean, he is a problem. There's no debate that with personal popularity sitting at about 20 percent, he is a drag on the National Party - but he is not their actual problem. Their actual problem is that the economy is stuffed and that they haven't yet figured out what to do to fix it, even though they've had 18 months.  And it really doesn't matter who the leader is, whether it's Nicola or Chris Bishop, or Erica, or Mark Mitchell or Golden Balls, it doesn't matter. They still will not have a plan for the economy. Now, if they're worried about their polling right now, they should try playing the game of musical leadership chairs and see what happens to their polling then, because they're still not going to have a plan for the economy - but then they'll also have voters feeling like it's a shambles up the top in the Beehive and not sure what's going on there. Yes, they have a problem and yes, you can see it in the polls. So fix it. Come up with a solution. Come up with a credible plan for fixing the economy now and into the future. That is where the Nats should be directing their energy, not into undermining Chris Luxon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.