Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has taken a swing at the Government's $70 million major events fund - while seemingly revealing its spend on bringing Robbie Williams here this year. Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner says he can't confirm that figure and Wayne Brown's comments are disappointing. "The mayor - part of his role is to advocate for our city.  Now, I’m not privy to the investment level. What I am privy to is the fact that the Government took a leadership position on getting major events back into the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's ongoing speculation about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership future, and it's looking more likely challengers could appear. Health Minister Wes Streeting's allies have claimed he's looking to launch a contest for Starmer's job. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are among the weight-loss drugs that more people are taking - but questions have been raised about their economic impacts. These drugs will also have an impact on other sectors, including healthcare and food, and research is still ongoing.  Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait chief executive Richard Wyeth is leaving - after one year in the job.  The South Island dairy processor's released an NZX market update, saying Leon Fung will be acting CEO, effective immediately.  Wyeth will remain supporting the transition, until the end of June.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hotel developments are quietly disappearing and 'ghost communities' are on the rise as Christchurch's council has raised concerns over Airbnbs. Four motel and hotel operators urged elected members at a policy and planning committee meeting to support a mandatory registration system for short term accommodation providers. Councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine wants Christchurch to take charge in rallying other councils to demand change.  "All we ask for is...we need the data. It's not saying we want to ban them, it's not saying anything like that. It's just saying, at the moment, we're in this crazy situation where we're hiring compliance officers - they have to do stake outs and surfing online and fielding complaints about who's renting out what."   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 May, 2026, we confront Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his claim not one person outside of Newstalk ZB is raising Covid lockdowns with him. Air New Zealand's chief executive tells us how it'll cope with a loss of nearly $400 million. A Christchurch City Councillor on his warning that Airbnb is turning parts of the city into "ghost communities". And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson tell us if they think Robbie Williams is worth a reported $3 million to bring to New Zealand. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins recently claimed no-one outside of Newstalk ZB is fussed about the Auckland lockdowns from 2021. Does he have a point? Will we find out come November? Yesterday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said he'd always choose social cohesion over businesses bottom lines when it comes to immigration. Labour's Chris Hipkins has raised concerns, especially following some other comments from Winston Peters and Shane Jones. Does he have a point?  How badly did we get ripped off if it’s true we paid $3 million to get Robbie Williams here - especially if Singapore reportedly paid $3 million for six Taylor Swift concerts two years ago?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a question for you: how badly did we get ripped off if it’s true we paid $3 million to get Robbie Williams here? Now, we don’t know for sure that's the amount the Government paid out of the Major Events Fund, but that is what Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has revealed in a fit of pique at the Government. And so far, nobody’s publicly denied it - not even Louise Upston, who’s the minister in charge of the money. Privately, we at the show have had at least one, what I would call, soft confirmation that the amount is correct. Now, if that’s true, $3 million for - as Wayne Brown calls him - a “tattooed Pom” is too much money. We’re wasting taxpayer money here, for a start. As excited as I personally am to be going to Robbie’s concert in November, I don’t think a 1990s pop star is what we imagined the Major Events Fund would be used for when it was set up after we missed out on Taylor Swift, Oasis and Lady Gaga. I mean, two in that list are proper A-list stars and one is a massively overdue reunion - a completely different league to Robbie. An offshore promoter thought $3 million is way too much to pay for Robbie. Singapore - this will put it in perspective for you - reportedly paid $3 million for six Taylor Swift concerts two years ago. Now, if $3 million buys you six Tay-Tays, how did we end up blowing $3 million on only one Robbie? We’ve been ripped off, good and proper. And the proof is in the fact that the tickets are apparently not selling very well. But then again - and bear this in mind - maybe this is just what we need to get used to and stop fighting. Robbie and Linkin Park may well be the best New Zealand can do now. Big stars like Lady Gaga, Oasis, Tay-Tay and Harry Styles are going to go to Australia, not here, and they’re going to expect us to come to them - and we will. I’m flying to Harry Styles. I flew to Oasis. Heaps of people flew to Tay-Tay. That’s how it works now. And if we want a former boy band member who peaked in the ’90s to come to New Zealand, we are simply going to have to pay a lot of money for him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's CEO says the airline will trim more flights, with a forecast it'll be $390 million in the red this financial year. It's blaming the fuel cost hike lifting spending $240 million more than expected.  The airline told NZX it's already reduced overall capacity three to five percent since the Iran war began. Nikhil Ravishankar says cuts may continue even after jet fuel prices ease, with cuts for August to October announced soon. "We either sort of roll over the changes that we've made into July - or we might have to go a bit further, depending on what fuel's doing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says Aucklanders have moved on from long lockdowns, and don't hold a grudge against Labour.  The Labour leader gave a speech today on the city's future, batting away questions on whether the Party kept the city too long in lockdown in 2021.  Chris Hipkins clarified that more Aucklanders are focused on the future of the city than what happened years ago. "Covid-19 was a very difficult time for everybody, and Auckland bore a disproportionate brunt of the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions compared to the rest of the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll has National stuck in the high 20s, with Labour seven points ahead.  National's on 29 percent in the Talbot Mills poll, with Labour on 36. Both parties haven't moved since last month's poll.  NZ First is down one to 14 percent, and ACT down one on seven percent.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what these results mean for the coalition's odds.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, opposition leader Angus Taylor has confirmed the coalition will restrict  the availability of welfare to foreigners if they win the next election. Taylor is set to deliver his first budget reply speech later this evening, and he's unveiled cuts will be made to the migrant intake in order to reduce housing pressures. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained why this turn won't appeal to younger voters.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Whites World Cup squad's been named - with New Zealand clubs providing eight of the 26 players. Auckland FC has five representatives in Michael Woud, Callan Elliot, Jesse Randall, Francis de Vries and Nando Pijnaker, while the Wellington Phoenix supply three in Alex Rufer, Tim Payne and Sarpreet Singh. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s proposal to change funding criteria for more type 2 diabetes medicines based on clinical need. Under the proposal, 25,000 more diabetic Kiwis will gain access to the treatments over the next few years. David Seymour says there's a lot of potential in investing in more GLP-1 medications to prevent other health problems impacting people down the line. "We've made a lot of progress on this kind of whole of society approach to funding medicines that will save us money in the long term, but that's some of the challenges we've run into so far."  Pharmac has since confirmed the ethnicity criteria reference refers to the diabetes medicine consultation and they have separate recommendations for semaglutide funding applications. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The carnival of chaos continues in Downing Street, as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets with one of the main contenders for his job - Health Minister Wes Streeting. Despite four ministerial resignations and 86 MPs calling for him to go, Starmer insists he is staying on as Prime Minister. UK correspondent Kay Oliver speculates ahead of the meeting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is set to travel to China this week to meet with President Xi Jinping. The US president will arrive with tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, in order to discuss trade, technology, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Milford Asset Management expert Jeremy Hutton explains what this could mean for the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could this be the year that the Opportunity Party meets the threshold to get into Parliament? Phillip Mills, the founder of gym franchise Les Mills International, has always supported Labour and the Greens, but he's topped up donations to TOP. Political commentator Bryce Edwards says this upcoming election is TOP's best chance, as Labour, National and NZ First continue to lose favour.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners 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!  Chris Luxon made a speech to a Business NZ audience in Auckland ahead of the 2026 Budget. He's indicated that this year's Budget won't splash the cash despite the ongoing global conflicts impacting New Zealand. Are we surprised by this?  The idea of the All Blacks being downgraded to premium economy has been floated in order to help bring down NZ Rugby's costs. What do we make of this idea? Do they need to stay in business class? How can Waitaki District Council justify a 45 percent rates increase? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 13 May, 2026, a warning from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon that there'll be no treats in this month's Budget - we ask senior correspondent Katie Bradford how much is going on the credit card. Sociologist Paul Spoonley on why there's not really a brain drain. We talk to Retail New Zealand chief executive Carolyn Young on why Kiwi shoppers are loyal to local when they could get cheaper foreign goods. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Phil O'Reilly on whether the All Blacks should travel business class - but premium economy if they lose. 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.

New Zealand's international credit rating has hit a tipping point, and economists have raised concerns. Back in March, Fitch Ratings placed New Zealand’s AA+ long-term credit rating on a 'negative outlook', downgraded from 'stable'.  Moody's later followed suit, claiming the global economic and political uncertainty presented downside risks to growth. Fitch's Head of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns, Thomas Rookmaaker, says this was driven by a number of factors, including the Middle East conflict and Government debt.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, I’m fascinated by this article in the New Zealand Herald, which argues the All Blacks should be forced to give up business class and travel premium economy instead. The reasoning is the cost of international travel has become so expensive that moving our teams in black around the planet is now costing nearly $87 million a year. Dropping them back a class on the plane would bring that cost down to $80 million a year and nearly wipe out the $7 million loss that New Zealand Rugby just reported for the financial year, which is great maths. But the idea is ridiculous, isn’t it? I mean, you can’t ask a two-metre-tall man like Fabian Holland to move down from business class. But even the shorter guys - you can’t ask them to travel to South Africa in a few weeks, which is literally on the other side of the world. It’s close to a full day’s travel, even on the most direct route through Perth, and then expect them to get over their jet lag and start playing top-level rugby against the best team in the world. You’re asking them to do all of that after they’ve been sitting upright on a plane for the entire flight. That’s impossible. We sometimes disparage rugby as not being a “real job” when we say things like, “Oh, it’s not that hard to throw a ball around a paddock,” which may be true - but it’s still a job, isn’t it? And when you’re asking someone to fly that distance for work - not just once but multiple times in a season - it should be in business class. Now, there is an argument about how many people go on these trips and I’m happy to have that conversation. There are apparently more than 40 players and nearly 30 staff heading to South Africa in a few weeks’ time, which seems excessive for a game that only requires 15 men on the field at any one time. And by the way, it’s not just the All Blacks who do this - who take these enormous squads around the world and put them in business class. It’s also the Black Ferns and the Sevens teams. But as for the idea of dropping these players down a class on the plane to bring them down a peg and save some money - I suspect there are people who will look at this and think it’s a great idea. And that’s the part that fascinates me. How many people out there like the idea that our best rugby players should be forced to sit further down the plane, just like the rest of us? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis appear to be shopping close to home, according to new reports.  Data from retail management platform Lightspeed shows about 77 percent of Kiwis surveyed prefer shopping in store above online.  40 percent shop at local businesses, and 34 percent buy online from New Zealand retailers. Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young says they want more of this, and for people to be proud of local stores. She says people should think about stores in their neighbourhoods that they really love. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls to drop the All Blacks down from business class to premium economy, as travel costs set to get worse during the fuel crisis. Dropping all of New Zealand's premium rugby teams down a flight class would reportedly save $6 million per year - as NZ Rugby looks to cut down losses. NZ Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster says the All Blacks need to travel multiple times a year, and this downgrade would be a stretch.  "The All Blacks carry a huge load for us...so we're not just sending them halfway across the world and putting them there, we're flying them multiple times over long distances. So this is not a consideration." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has warned less cash would be thrown around in this year's upcoming Budget amid ongoing economic turmoil. Luxon told the audience at the pre-Budget BusinessNZ event that it's important for the Government to stay on track with their fiscal strategy as the election looms. NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford says Luxon's speech is meant to signal to voters that his Government values stability and social cohesion. "This is a very clear message he's trying to get out there - about how National is the party of sensible, stable planned approach going in here."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia, housing supply is emerging as a key issue, for yesterday's new Labor Government Budget. It's raising taxes on investment properties and some trust funds - to give working Australians a $250 tax break. 35,000 fewer homes are expected to be built, despite net migration of 300,000 people a year. New South Wales University Emeritus Professor, Peter Swan, says they're destroying the rental industry. "All citizens are going to have to put up with much higher inflation - not due to the war, but due to excessive Government expenditure."   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise of more public sector cost-savings, as Budget Day nears. The Prime Minister told business leaders today that the Government's cutting another $300 million dollars from the Budget operating allowance - to $2.1 billion dollars. Chris Luxon says responsible economic management and fiscal discipline are more important than ever. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this development was largely expected.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Chinese Presidents are gearing up for face-to-face talks on all things Middle East, trades and tariffs.  Donald Trump's en route to China for the first visit by a US President in almost a decade. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the ongoing Middle East conflict is likely to be top of the agenda, but Trump has confirmed he won't need help in Iran. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the NRL's most decorated coaches has announced he is standing down at the end of the 2027 season. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed he is calling it quits. Cleary led his side to four straight premierships between 2021 and 2024 and they are top of the table this season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sociologist warns we should refrain from comparing our immigration with overseas. Prime Minister Chris Luxon's pointed the finger at immigration - for driving lower social cohesion and trust in institutions worldwide. He's indicated National will say more on the topic ahead of the election. But Massey University's Paul Spoonley says it's worth having a debate about our settings - but we need skilled migrants. "We should not compare our immigration system to what's happening in Europe, it's completely different. They have a large number of refugees and asylum seekers, we do not." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior UK Cabinet minister is the latest to call for Sir Keir Starmer to step aside after poor local election results last week. Four Labour MPs have quit as ministerial aides and more than 70 MPs, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, have publicly urged the Prime Minister to resign or set out a timetable for leaving.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unknown who could take over Starmer's role, but the pressure is mounting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to deliver the next Australian federal budget, and reports indicate it's going to be focused on housing. It's likely new property tax reforms will be unveiled, with an expected crackdown on capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank has just released their latest agribusiness monthly report for May, and it's good news for Kiwi farmers. The report has positive prospects for beef and dairy, thanks to ongoing international demand. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Can Auckland afford a second Harbour crossing? Chris Bishop has said we'll hear more about it in the coming months, but is this just an election promise?  Can Keir Starmer bounce back from the local election drubbing? Should he resign? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The manufacturing sector has been hit hard over the past few years, but ongoing global conflict has worsened current market conditions. Average profit margins have plunged to 31.53 percent, the lowest since records began in 2018. This has resulted in more manufacturers clearing out their warehouses, with stock on hand dropping to historically low levels.  Unleashed Head of Product Jarrod Adam says the challenges to the supply chain are being worsened by the Middle East conflict, and experts are unclear on what will happen next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 12 May, 2026, we ask Transport Minister Chris Bishop how we can afford a second Auckland Harbour crossing. The Police Association president tells us how angry officers are about a pay offer. We hear from Sir Graham Henry on how happy he is to come out of retirement to be an All Blacks selector. And on The Huddle, Maurice Williamson and Phil Goff discuss what's wrong with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. 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.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m taking this latest talk of a second Auckland Harbour crossing with a gigantic grain of salt. The development today is that Chris Bishop has revealed the Government will announce its preferred option for a second crossing by mid-year - so I suppose you could say June-ish or July-ish - and they will decide between a tunnel or a bridge. And while I really want to get excited about it, because Auckland needs this crossing and has been waiting decades for it, I cannot get excited. That’s because I can see what’s going on here. It’s an election year and National is in danger of losing Auckland, which means potentially coming quite close in the election - as in, potentially losing it. Unlikely, but possible. So the easiest way to win favour in Auckland is to promise something big and shiny, like a bridge. Have we been here before? Yes, we have. Do you remember Michael Wood’s boomer bike bridge to Birkenhead? Where are we with that? We spent $51 million-plus on consultants, and in the end it got ditched. Now, I have a strong suspicion that whatever Chris Bishop announces mid-year will go exactly the same way because we cannot afford it. I want us to be able to afford it, because we need it, but Chris Bishop is already scaling back on the Roads of National Significance that he announced before the last election. That’s because we don’t have the funding for those roads - because we haven’t increased the fuel excise tax in what will shortly be seven years. So if we don’t have the funding for those roads, why would we have the funding for this bridge? Now, unless there is committed funding and an absolutely rock-solid commitment from Labour to continue with the project if they were to win the election - or subsequent elections - I think we can see this for what it is: the cheapest and easiest pre-election trick to play on Aucklanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research shows some surveys might not be as accurate as we all think. Researchers asked Kiwis if they believed the Canadian Government was secretly training genetically enhanced raccoons for warfare, with 7.2 percent of respondents - or 300,000 people - saying they believed it. University of Otago psychology expert on Dr John Kerr says it's extremely unlikely all these respondents believed this, and the question was designed to be outlandish to weed out the trolls. "It helped us to get an idea of the extent of what we'd call 'insincere responders' - or trolls, who are skewing the results on this kind of research."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Graham Henry is keen to offer his perspective to the All Blacks selection roundtable. The 2011 World Cup-winning coach will join the panel as an independent selector, alongside head coach Dave Rennie and assistant Neil Barnes. Sir Graham says everyone has an opinion on what's right and wrong in rugby. "I think that sure, when people are watching my team win when I was a coach, they felt probably the same way. So I guess it's part of the deal." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are prepared to let Luke Metcalf negotiate with other clubs. A club statement says they will allow last year's first choice halfback to look for a new home, after falling down the pecking order following injuries over the last 12 months. It comes with Tanah Boyd poised to re-sign until 2029. Former Kiwis player Richie Barnett says it's a stunning turn of events. "Obviously, we've seen through the year that he doesn't like playing six and Tanah Boyd's playing so well, Chanel's playing so well at six - Tanah Boyd's just amazing at seven, so it's incredible how the tide has turned." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's assurance scoping work on a second Auckland Harbour crossing is still under way, with plans expected mid-year. Two Transport Agency reports have detailed defects in the 67 year-old bridge, and warn it's at risk of failure. It says without long-term strengthening work, month-long lane closures, truck limits, and more wind-related restrictions are on the cards. Chris Bishop says he won't be the Transport Minister who produces a pie-in-the sky idea that turns to custard. He says they're taking an evidence led approach, engaging with the market, doing geotechnical assessments and extensive studies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll has the coalition returning to power - despite a drop in support for the minor Government parties.  The latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll has National up slightly to 30 percent and Labour down to 31.9 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the minor parties have taken a hit, with ACT and NZ First looking less solid than they did in earlier polls.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian federal budget is set to be delivered tonight, and it's promising big changes. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the budget will feature 'more than the usual amount of savings and more than the usual amount of reform'. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this will appeal to younger voters, as concerns have been raised about intergenerational inequality and the housing market.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Metcalf is poised to leave the Warriors. The NRL club have confirmed they have agreed to a request from Metcalf's management to talk with other clubs. It's unclear whether they would allow an immediate release for the halfback, who only re-signed until 2028 late last year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Association says a new pay offer doesn't meet struggling officers' needs. The union says they'd effectively get a 0.6 percent bump, with nothing for managers. Police Association President Steve Watt says the impacted officers have found this offer 'tough' to accept, given the demands of the job.  "We've asked for five percent, we understand that CPI is still to come out, but we understand that the CPI figure is going to be around that four to five percent. And the reality is, for our members, anything under CPI is essentially a pay cut."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pressure on Sir Keir Starmer keeps ramping up in the UK. Labour had a disastrous showing in local elections at the end of last week - a reflection of the Prime Minister's growing unpopularity. The party lost a total 1500 councillors across England, with Nigel Farage's Reform UK party picking up steam. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Starmer is set to give a speech addressing the situation, but there's growing calls to replace him as party leader.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party's written to Government ministers asking them to use their majority owner status to pressure major gentailers to reduce power prices. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says shareholding ministers, Simeon Brown and Nicola Willis, can write to the gentailers and require them to do more on energy hardship programmes.  She suggests they could also call for retail prices not to surpass inflation. Energy economist Geoff Bertram says it's time action was taken to bring down the impact of the major gentailers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices have jumped more than three percent on the back of another snag in negotiations between the US and Iran.  Donald Trump has taken to social media to call Iran's response to a US 14-point memorandum 'totally unacceptable'.  Brent crude is now trading at more than 104 US dollars a barrel.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has left Te Pāti Māori to start a new party. Is this the beginning of the end for them? What do we think?  Does New Zealand have to worry about far-right populism sweeping through the nation? Between Reform and One Nation, do we see New Zealand getting its own counterpart? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re never going to know for sure what tipped the Government into finally cutting the fees-free policy but I would like to take some credit for this show’s part in it. We have harped on about the need to get rid of that policy for so long that it actually started to get boring, even for me. But as with everything: persevere and you will succeed. And finally, the policy is gone. We had it confirmed by Winston Peters on Friday. Now, I’ve already had emails from people who are upset about this. I’ve heard students complaining and I’ve heard some parents complaining as well. And I understand - it is never fun to have free Government money taken away from you. It is because of this kind of angst that free Government money is so rarely clawed back once it’s started being handed out. But this policy was a dog from the start. It cost perhaps $350 million a year - and $350 million a year is a lot of money. For that money, it didn’t do what it was supposed to do, which was to lift enrolments among poorer kids. If it didn’t achieve that - if those kids were going to uni anyway and are still going - then all we were doing was wasting $350 million. And to those worrying about students living in poverty or being unable to afford study, please remember: we taxpayers already subsidise about 70 percent of what it costs Kiwi kids to go to university. We already provide interest-free student loans. It is already relatively cheap, by global standards, to go to university here. You could argue that our system is already so generous that even making it more generous didn’t lift enrolments. It’s already generous enough. Now, I am going to withhold judgment on Nicola and Winston and what the plan is from here because this Government does tend to save money only to spend it again. They’re going to take some of that money and spend it on trades training. That might be a good idea - but then again, it might just be the same kind of slop as fees-free, only in a more worthy place. We’ll see. But as for the cutting of Jacinda’s wasteful and pointless free year of study - RIP. And may we'll be more careful with our spending in the future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 11 May, 2026, we ask a Māori political commentator if others will join Mariameno Kapa-Kingi in leaving Te Pati Māori to start their own party. A school principal tells us why he'll defy an order to not let children take home leftover lunches. Don Mackinnon on how much of a blow it is in delaying NZ20 for a year. And on The Huddle, Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson discuss whether it's the beginning of the end for Te Pati Maori. One of them says we wouldn't have Te Pati Pakeha. 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.