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. 21 MIN AGO

    Chris Mackenzie: Ferry Holdings chairman on Treasury's warning on Cook Strait ferry project

    Ferry Holdings' chair insists buying two new Interislander ferries and improving docks to accommodate them won't blow out costs.  In a Treasury briefing last September, officials raised concerns building portside infrastructure could exceed the budget. But chair Chris Mackenzie says that briefing was premature.  "You've got to remember that this report that was done last September was done before we'd even started detailed negotiations with the ports."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min

  2. 33 MIN AGO

    John Battersby: Massey University Defence and Security expert on Donald Trump's 'Project Freedom' plan for the Strait of Hormuz

    A warning US ships could encounter mines, missiles and small boat attacks if they try to shepherd commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump has announced 'Project Freedom' - a plan that will involve 15,000 service members and 100 military aircraft.  Massey University Centre for Defence and Security Studies' John Battersby says there are many unknowns.   "We can't guarantee that they can protect from that kind of attack, and that's going to weigh on commercial operators. Do we run this risk? Have we got enough confidence in the Americans that we're safe?"  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  3. 1 HR AGO

    Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Luxon signing a new fuel deal with Singapore

    A first of its kind agreement to secure New Zealand fuel. Prime Minister Chris Luxon and other ministers are in Singapore, for the signing of a fuel and food security Memorandum of Understanding. Singapore will supply us fuel in times of crisis - and New Zealand's will supply food - in a mutually beneficial deal. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained the significance of this deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min

  4. 1 HR AGO

    Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on One Nation seeing more support in new poll

    The upcoming by-election for Sussan Ley's former regional seat in Farrer is set to take place this weekend, and there's speculation about what it could mean for One Nation's future. One Nation is seeing more support, with a new poll showing 11.7 percent of respondents assigned a the party a rating of 10. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this will come as a huge boost for the party's controversial leader, Pauline Hanson.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  5. 1 HR AGO

    Jason Pine: Sportstalk host on Auckland FC's weekend victory over Melbourne City

    Auckland FC boss Nick Becker hopes the crowd for their semi-final first leg against Adelaide United next Saturday is better than last night's elimination final. 11,351 went through the Mt Smart gates and saw Auckland FC keep their season alive on penalties over Melbourne City. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

  6. 1 HR AGO

    Eugene Bareman: Walk Without Fear Charitable Trust chair on the group's plan to roll out anti-violence programmes for schools

    Walk Without Fear Charitable Trust is running a two-day anti-violence programme tomorrow, for up to 120 South Auckland secondary students. The Trust plans to roll out national school programmes, which will include lessons to avoid coward punches. Chair Eugene Bareman says kids are taught self-control, de-escalation and how to protect themselves.  "Just how to approach a situation calmly when they're under pressure, just responding rather than reacting." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min

  7. 1 DAY AGO

    Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Here's the real issue impacting local councils

    So I was in Christchurch giving a speech to part of Local Government New Zealand - the South Island arm - so the room was full of mayors and councillors from across the South Island. One of the topics up for discussion was what councils around the country need to do, or could do, to win back public approval. I have to be honest: I left that room - and you know my views on councils - feeling just a little bit sorry for the councillors and mayors I met. The ones I spoke to seemed to be honestly trying. They admitted they’ve got more to do and that there are stupid costs they need to cut as well. But what they told me is that they’re up against it. They’re dealing with things they can’t change: national laws like the RMA that tie their hands, and unelected staff who just go ahead and do their own thing. And sure enough, there’s a story that illustrates at least some of that perfectly. Wellington City Council staff have spent $130,000 on new art for their flash new building - a building where they’ve hogged the top floors and shoved the mayor downstairs, where he’s staring at a wall. Now, the thing is, they don’t need art. They have no money and they’re going hard on Wellington ratepayers. They do not need to be spending on art. They’ve already got an extensive collection they could draw from, which includes Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston, Ralph Hotere, Dick Frizzell - Pablo Picasso, for goodness’ sake.Judging by the criticism from elected councillors, it seems those councillors didn’t even know the unelected staff were splashing out on fancy art. That’s what these people are up against: bureaucrats who treat ratepayers like a bottomless ATM. That is a major problem. Now, I’m not making excuses for elected councillors or mayors - they have their own part to play in big spending. But some of them are genuinely trying. They’re just up against decades of ingrained largesse like this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min
  8. Full Show Podcast: 01 May 2026

    2 DAYS AGO

    Full Show Podcast: 01 May 2026

    On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 1 May, 2026, former Defence Minister Ron Mark explains why he wouldn't  be rushing to help the US open the Strait of Hormuz. An Australian reading expert tells us why New Zealand can be world leading in literacy. One New Zealand chief executive Jason Paris outlines what went wrong with an internet outage. And on the Sports Huddle, Nathan Limm and Clay Wilson debate whether Papua New Guinea's got an unfair advantage in recruiting NRL players. 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
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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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