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.

12h ago

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Does Erica Stanford deserve the backlash?

So Erica Stanford denies she was preparing to stand for leader in the coup against Chris Luxon. Now, no one with two eyes and even a basic understanding of politics is going to believe that story, because Erica Stanford was the only person whose name was in the leadership mix who refused to express confidence in Chris Luxon. Chris Bishop did. Mark Mitchell did. Even Chris Penk did. But not Erica Stanford. And if you remember, Erica Stanford publicly told Luxon off over the small business comments. The rumour that's been going around Wellington since the start of this year was basically that Erica Stanford was going to make her move on Chris Luxon in August, three months out from the election. Because I heard that rumour, that's why I predicted there would be a coup in August all the way back in April. No one is going to buy Erica Stanford's story. But that doesn't mean Erica Stanford deserves the anger that I can see she's receiving from some quarters. Her actions, I think, were only rational for a senior minister in a party facing what this party is facing. If you believe the One News Verian poll, which put National at 29 percent, and various other polls that have also put it at 29 percent, the party is on track to lose a lot of MPs in November. That means losing a lot of power around the Cabinet table. Much of that is the fault of the Prime Minister and his performance. So I think it is only rational for her, and others, to want a new leader. I don't even think Chris Penk deserves the vitriol he's received. He is, if you believe the stories, the only person who had the courage of his convictions to stand up in caucus and challenge the Prime Minister in person. He's the only one who put his head above the parapet and was honourable about it. He's also done the honourable thing by owning his role in the coup and quitting altogether because he knows his ongoing presence would further undermine the Prime Minister. That took courage. Now, I'm not saying it was the right thing for him to do, launching a coup. I'm not saying this wasn't a disaster. It was a complete disaster. It has left the National Party worse off than it would have been had it not happened. But it was the rational response to a leader who is underperforming and taking the party down with him. And if the protagonists deserve anger for anything, it is for losing their bottle and losing their courage at the last moment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

Full Show Podcast: 14 August 2026

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 14 August. 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.
2d ago

Azaria Howell: Newstalk ZB senior political reporter wraps the week in politics

Senior political reporter Azaria Howell joins Andrew Dickens to review the week in politics. PM Chris Luxon has survived a second challenge to his leadership this year. A failed coup ended with a caucus vote that ruled in the Prime Minister's favour, and saw the sacking of former Defence Minister Chris Penk. And Opportunity could be the kingmakers in this election as some polls predict the newcomers will get as high as 8% of the vote. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

Ruth Money: Chief Victims Advisor comments on Kiwis dodging jury service

A number of people appear to be dodging their civic duty. The Spinoff reports about a third of people summoned for jury service last year didn't respond to their summons or turn up to court. It's the highest rate recorded in the past five years. Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that those people would want someone to step up for them if they were accused of a crime. She says it's incredibly important to show up to jury service, and equally, to see the harm being caused in the community. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

Lance Burdett: Former police negotiator discusses Sylvia Park Shooting

A former police investigator says officers are fully justified for shooting dead an armed person, whether it's an imitation weapon or not. A man was killed yesterday - after he carried a stolen air rifle into Auckland's Sylvia Park Shopping Centre. Lance Burdett says the officer who killed him would've been acting on their training. He told Andrew Dickens the fact the man had taken the weapon out of the car signalled intent. Burdett says people with imitation firearms have been shot in New Zealand in the past because you cannot tell. Corrections says the man had been serving community detention. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

John Glover: Queenstown Mayor on National's promise to invest in the South Island

Could a gondola in Queenstown ease traffic woes? That's the multi-million dollar question - as National pledges to support public transit initiatives to reduce congestion if re-elected. It includes looking at a gondola to connect the airport with the town centre - paid for by the National Land Transport fund made up of fuel taxes and road user charges. Queenstown Mayor John Glover told Andrew Dickens that congestion is an urgent issue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: The story of the scapegoat

So it's the story that swamped the country this week. And since I have not been on the radio really until today, this is my first, but also my last word about it. Despite Christopher Luxon's win, there is obviously a significant part of his team that have little confidence in him. It's strongest amongst the backbenchers who can see their list seats evaporating, but it's also present in the front bench no matter what they say. And that is on the Prime Minister. Because all coups happen when MPs lose confidence in their leaders' messaging. Choosing the CEO model with little ministerial workload, Christopher Luxon's only job for the National Party and the country is to sell the National Party policies and ideas that have been rustled up by his caucus. When the ones who have done the hard work see him floundering to sell these ideas and policies, they get grumpy and start thinking that they could do a better job. So it came down to a crisis meeting. Chris Penk, the only one with the balls to face off with the Prime Minister. Now I don't think he wanted the Prime Minister's job. I think he might have wanted deputy to one of two people who I won't name here. But he was prepared to be the enabler, the catalyst, to get things started. But then the Prime Minister read the riot act and everyone folded. And say what you want about Christopher Luxon. In public he may be perceived as a clumsy doofus, but it appears that behind closed doors he reads a really good riot act. And that's what you learn at the top end of business. So Chris was hoping, Chris Penk, too many Chrises, Chris Penk's hoping to be the catalyst for a main contender. Those contenders chickened out immediately once they saw the full force of Hurricane Luxton. Guess what? No Penk family Christmas card for those guys. And now I come to the scapegoating. Tom Coghlan and the media have been blamed for rusting this up. But all Tom did was report from the disaffected, who were National Party members. He would have got the word from at least two of them because that is what journalists do. But, you know, the messenger always gets blamed. I call that lazy deflection. And then there's poor old Chris Penk. He must have known the risk and, you know, I don't think he cared. He either ended out in a stronger position or he had to leave. Now, Chris Pink is coming to the end of three terms when the great super deal kicks in. So for him, it was win-win. It was all or nothing and he doesn't care. He now leaves. Or in other words, escapes the cesspit and can get on with a more rewarding life. So all this was what it was. If it affects your vote, then that's your call. It didn't sway me whatsoever because I vote for the team and their policies, not the show ponies on the top. But what I do know is the Prime Minister called a nationwide buster of all MPs and their staff in recess week, the week they went to their electorate and started stomping around doing some ground level campaigning. They lost two days of electioneering. That has to have an impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

Chris Eames: Waikato University Education Professor shocked by lack of climate change teaching

An education professor has taken issue with the new curriculum. The new curriculum for years 0-10 for science and social sciences has dropped all mention of climate change, which was part of the earlier drafts. Waikato University Education Professor Chris Eames told Andrew Dickens that it's an important topic of conversation, as it's a growing problem. 'We cannot be sure that we're providing the opportunities for young people to fully prepare themselves for a future which will be impacted by climate change.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Heather du Plessis-Allan

Host

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.