Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

  1. 5 hr ago

    Enda Brady: UK correspondent speaks ahead of Trump appearance at NATO summit

    US President Donald Trump is headed to Türkiye for the NATO summit, and anticipation is growing. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is set to be top of mind, but other concerns up for discussion include the US-Iran conflict and America's earlier attempt to acquire Greenland.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says more defence deals are in the pipeline, but it's unknown what Trump's mood is. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  2. 5 hr ago

    Hamish McKay: The Country spokesperson on the impacts of the rain in Kaikōura

    Relentless rain is driving more evacuations in Kaikōura, which is under a state of emergency. At least 150 households have been told to evacuate in Kaikōura, most recently from upper Red Swamp. State Highway 1 is closed between Waipara and Ward, and expected to stay shut overnight. The Country's Hamish Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min

  3. 5 hr ago

    The Huddle: Should we be worried about China?

    Tonight on The Huddle, former Green MP Gareth Hughes and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Is Erica Stanford right to not put restrictions on VPNs? What did we make of this? Did we think she was going to introduce restrictions?  China launched their missile test today - did we over-react? Should we be worried about this? Do we agree with the Green's plan to ban synthetic nitrogen fertiliser - or is it an over-reach?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min
  4. Full Show Podcast: 07 July 2026

    5 hr ago

    Full Show Podcast: 07 July 2026

    On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 7 July, 2026, Education Minister Erica Stanford on whether she's considered restrictions on VPNs - or not - as part of an under-16 social media ban. Former police senior sergeant Tony Bouchier tells us whether he agrees with the Supreme Court overturning two murder convictions for the Red Fox Tavern shooting more than 40 years ago. Tauranga City Councillor Steve Morris on why he's calling his city Toll-ranga. And on The Huddle, Jordan Williams and Gareth Hughes on whether we should be worried about China's missile test in Pacific waters. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1hr 40min

  5. 5 hr ago

    Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Did China break any rules with their nuclear missile test?

    Let's talk about the Chinese test of that nuclear-capable missile. More specifically, let's talk about New Zealand's response to it, which was quite full-throated in its criticism of China. I find myself unable to get as worked up about this as Winston Peters because, please correct me if I'm wrong, I can't see that China has actually broken any rules here. Before firing the missile, China alerted New Zealand, Australia and Japan, as required under international regulations governing tests of this nature. And even though there's been a lot of noise about China firing a nuclear-capable missile into a nuclear-free zone, it was only nuclear-capable; it was not actually carrying a nuclear warhead. It was a dummy. Sure, I'd admit they were pushing hard up against what people would be comfortable with. But then again, missiles are generally not things people are comfortable with. As far as I can see, the New Zealand Government's angry response is largely posturing because we're required to posture. The reason I'm not quite as worked up is that this doesn't actually surprise me.  Anyone who's followed what China has been up to lately knows that it's building up its military and not just so it can put on impressive displays. I do wonder, though, whether China has made a bit of a mistake here, just as it may have done last year when it conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. This kind of activity from China could freak people out a bit, or, if not freak them out, at least wake them up to the fact that China is not simply a benign trading partner. It is a military superpower with clear strategic ambitions, probably involving Taiwan. So I wouldn't be surprised if this creates greater support in New Zealand for increased defence spending, which is actually something we need to do. Nor would I be surprised if it unsettles some of our Pacific neighbours and drives them closer to New Zealand and Australia, which is arguably what we want. In a way, I don't actually mind that China did this, if only because it might help us collectively wake up a little to what is really happening in our region. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

  6. 5 hr ago

    Tim Bean: physique specialist voices concerns with proposed ban on incandescent light bulbs

    Genesis is backing a Parliamentary petition to ban incandescent light bulbs, and it's prompted concerns from some. These bulbs are already banned in the Australia, the EU, the US, Canada and many other countries.  However, physique specialist Tim Bean says people who are constantly exposed to LED lights have a strong 'blue spectrum' and it interferes with our sleep-wake cycles. "It does disrupt things like circadian rhythm patterns and sleep patterns as well...and we've known this for a very long time."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  7. 6 hr ago

    Mike Casey: Rewiring Aotearoa CEO on the Government looking to changes laws on plug-in solar panels

    Plugging a a solar panel into your own wall is currently illegal in New Zealand, but the Government's looking into changing that. In a post on Facebook, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says work is currently under way to make this change happen. Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey has welcomed this move, saying this development would be 'amazing'. "It's something that we thought needed to happen in New Zealand, it hasn't happened in Australia yet - we copy a lot of our regulations and standards from Australia, so we're breaking the mould and heading out and doing it ourselves." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min

  8. 6 hr ago

    Sophie Moloney: Sky TV chief executive on Sky winning NRL and Warriors rights in new broadcast deal

    Has a second NRL team in New Zealand edged closer to a reality after the NRL's new multi-billion dollar broadcast deal? The Australian Rugby League Commission has signed a new seven-year TV rights deal with its existing partners on both sides of the Tasman, including Sky TV, starting in 2028. The NRL wants to increase to 20 teams during that period, with Christchurch considered a candidate for an expansion licence. Sky TV boss Sophie Moloney has been asked what the new deal means to that end. "That's definitely one for the commission - that wasn't determinist of our values, we've valued it up based on what we've got and we love our Warriors."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min
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With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

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