Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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. 3 JAN

    Best of 2024: Heather du Plessis-Allan - Let's put Donald Trump's win into perspective

    Let me tell you, it was absolutely no surprise to me to see my Facebook friends going crazy over Trump winning the election last night - and there's been plenty of hysterical predictions now that he's won. My absolute favourite one was from my husband, who said that Trump would take us to the brink of war. Hello - the world is already at war, we don't need to be taken to the brink, we're already there.  We've got two significant wars under way in two of the most worrying parts of the world - Europe and the Middle East - and neither of them are because of Trump, they started under Biden. It's got me thinking - we need a bit of perspective here. People are really losing their minds over this. We cannot predict what is going to happen in the future, but we have the past to guide us. So why don't we compare the last time Trump was President with the most recent period under Biden and see who wins at being the real crazy one here. Because as far as I can see, Biden is the one who's been far worse for New Zealand. Sure, Trump introduced the steel tariffs on us and started a trade war with China - but last time I checked, Biden hasn't removed those tariffs and he hasn't ended the trade war with China.  So as far as I can see, they're basically the same as each other on that. Under Biden, two new wars have started, both of which have put prices that we pay in New Zealand up. Under Trump, no new wars were started. My husband was quick to point out North Korea and 'Rocket Man' and how they came close to staring a war - but they didn't. It might have nearly, but it didn't. Nothing happened, despite all the warnings. Trump is too much of a crazy-maker - and other world leaders don't know how far they can push it with him and they suspect they can't, so they don't try at all. That is why Putin invaded Georgia under Bush, Crimea over Obama and Ukraine under Biden - but there were no invasions under Trump. Under Biden - never mind the threat of North Korea maybe doing something, two wars actually did happen. And they are worse than anything North Korea might have done. Under Trump, the withdrawal from Afghanistan was orderly, and under Biden, it was an unmitigated disaster - which he was at the centre of - and it completely undermined America's credibility. So before we get too hysterical about all the bad things Trump could do, how about we remind ourselves about all the bad things Biden did do? Get a bit of a grip, and ask ourselves - what would Trump actually have to do in the next four years to be worse than Biden? Why weren't we as hysterical about Biden? Or is the hysteria just something we reserve for Donald Trump? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min

  2. 30/12/2024

    Best of 2024: Greens caught asking to use private carparks after their cycleway impacted parking

    Several Greens members have been caught asking to use the private carparks belonging to Wellington retailers for a party event. These retailers were impacted by Green-led cycleway project, which took away on-street parking in the area. Independent Business and Residential Group chairwoman Urmila Bhana says this cycleway has negatively impacted several businesses. "Businesses are down 60, 80, 100 percent, they're either moving, closing, or heading into liquidation. And that's nothing to do with the recession, it's the carpark removal." LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  3. 28/12/2024

    Best of 2024: Jack Tame - Wholesome Tui billboard? Yeah right

    Newsflash: Tui 'Yeah Right' billboard accused of being bad taste.  Whoa, for a moment there I thought I'd been transported back to 2006. Is it in good taste? No. Of Course not. It's a billboard for a beer company, for goodness' sake. Of course it's in bad taste. I don't think anyone has ever accused Tui of good taste. Given the extent to which the sensational details in the Polkinghorne case have scandalised the nation, it's hardly a surprise to see the billboards pop up. I'll be honest with you: It doesn't upset me. But if I were Pauline Hanna's family I might, quite reasonably, feel a bit miffed at a company trying to cash in on something related to my death.  And here's the thing: Even if it did upset me, sometimes the most effective strategy to oppose something is to contain your outrage.  I actually feel the same way about aspects of the Treaty Principles Bill. I wonder if the most extreme opposition to ACT's proposal might not ultimately help ACT's cause. And perhaps a more considered opposition might be calmer, quieter, and ultimately starve the issue from the attention upon which it'll thrive.  Tui is banking on controversy. It has literally set up a feedback line so people can voice their outrage. But if you really have a problem with their billboards... Don't give them the attention. And don't buy Tui.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

  4. 26/12/2024

    Best of 2024: Barry Soper - Northland pylon collapse was completely preventable

    The Electricity Authority's report in to a toppled pylon has found the collapse was entirely avoidable. The Transpower pylon north of Helensville fell - cutting power to 88,000 people in Northland - after unsupervised, inexperienced maintenance crews undid three legs at once. The report found there was evidence removing all the nuts wasn't a one-off event. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this incident came with significant economic impacts to Northland. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min

  5. 20/12/2024

    Gavin Grey: UK Correspondent on the verdict expected against Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini

    A charity boat was bringing 147 migrants that they'd rescued in the Mediterranean to Italy but the Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini refused.  This has now come to court and Matteo Salvini is accused of kidnap and dereliction of duty over that refusal to allow the the boat to dock, and prosecutors in Sicily have asked judges to sentence him to 6 years in jail. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey joins the show to talk about this and the Minister who's responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets is now alleged to be involved in a massive embezzlement in Bangladesh. LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min

  6. 20/12/2024

    Sir Roger Douglas: ACT Founder supports Shane Jones

    Sir Roger Douglas is disappointed with the ACT Party's response to this week's bleak Treasury forecasts.  Douglas supported NZ First MP Shane Jones' response to the figures in which he made in an urgent debate in Parliament.  David Seymour has 'annoyed' his party's founder.  ACT Party Founder Sir Roger Douglas discusses this with Ryan Bridge.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 min
  7. Full Show Podcast: 20 December 2024

    20/12/2024

    Full Show Podcast: 20 December 2024

    Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 20 December. 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.

    1h 40m

  8. 20/12/2024

    Peter Lewis: Asia Business Correspondent on China's attempt to boost their economy

    China has been desperate to boost its economy but the consumer does not want to spend.  Youth unemployment is close to 20% in the country, which is a contributor factor as well as worries around healthcare.  The South Korean Government has voted to impeach President Yoon and now the constitutional court has 180 days to review that decision.  There is a potential for a merger between two car makers Nissan and Honda.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 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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