/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/rss ob体育接口 Tune into Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive, 4pm-7pm weekdays. Keep up with the latest news and developments from New Zealand and the world on Newstalk ob体育接口 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 12:21:26 Z en /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-rachel-reeves-dashing-uk-hopes-of-early-us-trade-deal/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-rachel-reeves-dashing-uk-hopes-of-early-us-trade-deal/ The UK is still hoping to work out a trade deal with the US - but early reports indicate it's quite a way off. Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently arrived in Washington DC, and she's warned negotiations will take time. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the UK economy needs the extra help, but it's unlikely a deal will come by the end of the week. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:06:05 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-donald-trumps-attacks-on-federal-reserve-chair-jerome-powell/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-donald-trumps-attacks-on-federal-reserve-chair-jerome-powell/ US President Donald Trump has spent the past week verbally attacking Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and it's prompted concerns from the markets. Trump recently claimed the US economy could slow down unless interest rates were lowered immediately - and said that Powell's termination 'cannot come soon enough'. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what this could mean for investors. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:58:30 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rowena-duncum-the-country-host-on-local-cheesemakers-voicing-concerns-about-presence-of-supermarket-cheeses/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rowena-duncum-the-country-host-on-local-cheesemakers-voicing-concerns-about-presence-of-supermarket-cheeses/ Local cheesemakers have voiced concerns about the competition created by supermarket-produced home-brands. Smaller brands have been forced to scale back on production to reduce their reliance on the supermarkets - in a bid to focus on filling niches that appeal to Kiwi cheese lovers. The Country's Rowena Duncum explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:48:54 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-on-inflation-expectations-going-up-in-new-data/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-on-inflation-expectations-going-up-in-new-data/ Consumer confidence has gone back up - but new data indicates people are also worried about inflation. The latest ANZ-Roy Morgan survey shows consumer confidence rose 5 points to 98.3 in April - but inflation expectations soared 0.5pts to 4.7 percent, the highest reading since July 2023. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpacked the factors contributing to this data. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:42:34 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-taxpayers-be-funding-more-locally-made-reality-shows/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-taxpayers-be-funding-more-locally-made-reality-shows/ Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Infrastructure NZ's Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! How do we feel about the fact that we're buying new cars - and paying for their maintenance - for our former Prime Ministers? Should taxpayers be funding more locally made reality shows?  ACT and National are at odds over the ACC's race-based policies - what do we make of this?  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:34:52 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-national-needs-to-stop-this-acc-business-before-it-loses-votes/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-national-needs-to-stop-this-acc-business-before-it-loses-votes/ Now, listen, I hope that this ACC business is a Scott Simpson problem and not a National problem, but I'm starting to get a little worried about it - because this is at least the 3rd case of race-based stuff still happening under National when we thought National was going to put a stop to it. I mean, with the free GP visits in Hawke's Bay for Māori and Pasifika kids and no one else - at least that stuff could be blamed on rogue public health staff, and it was killed as soon as we discovered it was happening. And at least with the co-governance stuff that's going on in the Waitakere Ranges - at a stretch, we may believe that the Government didn't know about it. Maybe. But this ACC stuff, the minister knows about. And even though he was told about it, he's not gonna stop it because as I told you in the Newsroom article, he stands by ACC - and he thinks it's okay.Now, I reckon this is gonna be just a little disappointing to a whole bunch of voters who put this Government in power to stop this race-based stuff that Willie Jackson and the Labour Party were pushing. And who would have thought that that directive to the public service that went out last year telling the public servants to stop the race-based stuff was actually going to stop the race-based stuff? National needs to cut the stuff out. They need to stop this. They either need to stop it themselves or they need to go along to to Scott Simpson and tell him to stop it, because otherwise, a lot of voters are gonna wise up to exactly what ACT was warning us at the election - which is that National is not actually going to change anything. National is just Labour in blue clothes. And if you think I'm going too far saying that, just take a look at what is going on. I'll remind you, Nicola Willis has spent more in her last budget than Grant Robertson ever spent. Scott Simpson clearly loves himself a little race-based target. Now, what did we complain about ad nauseam with Labour? We complained about too much spending, but we've still got that going on. We complained about too much racial division - we've still got that going on. So how is this any different currently? As I say, National needs to cut this out, or it needs to risk losing voters to its coalition partners, because the coalition partners at this stage are actually taking a tougher line on this stuff. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:21:24 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-24-april-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-24-april-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 24 April 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis defends her Family Boost package after revelations that way fewer people are qualifying for the full amount. ACT's Laura McClure is ringing alarm bells over ACC's policy to target Maori and Pacifica manufacturing workers - and we get a late back-down from ACC Minister Scott Simpson. Should we be spending more taxpayer money on locally produced reality TV content? Plus, the Huddle debates whether we should continue paying for new cars for our ex-Prime Ministers. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:11:42 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-lewis-asia-business-correspondent-on-donald-trump-reportedly-considering-slashing-tariffs-on-china/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-lewis-asia-business-correspondent-on-donald-trump-reportedly-considering-slashing-tariffs-on-china/ New reports indicate Donald Trump is considering slashing tariffs on Chinese goods by more than half. No announcements have been made yet- but tariffs could reportedly come down to between roughly 50 percent and 65 percent, according to one senior White House official.  Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis says China has signalled it's open to trade talks - as officials believe this is the US blinking first in the trade dispute. "They see it as vindication of President Xi's strategy - which is to hang tough and not to be bullied and not to negotiate under duress." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:01:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/luke-bradford-royal-college-of-gps-medical-director-welcomes-inquiry-into-medicinal-cannabis-clinics/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/luke-bradford-royal-college-of-gps-medical-director-welcomes-inquiry-into-medicinal-cannabis-clinics/ Doctors are welcoming an inquiry into the prescriptions from medicinal cannabis clinics. The Medical Council's leading the investigation following patient complaints they weren't properly briefed on non-cannabis options at the clinics, or about the ongoing costs and side-effects of cannabis. The Royal College of GPs Medical Director Luke Bradford says regulation of the clinics is overdue. "Medicinal cannabis is lacking in evidence and should only be used once all other options have been trialled. And that's not happening in these clinics."  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:37:03 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/irene-gardiner-spada-president-on-the-calls-for-the-government-to-help-fund-kiwi-reality-shows/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/irene-gardiner-spada-president-on-the-calls-for-the-government-to-help-fund-kiwi-reality-shows/ There's growing calls among industry experts for the Government to give NZ-produced reality shows a funding boost. Local versions of shows like Married at First Sight and The Block currently don't get the 40 percent screen production rebate available to other programs - and Kiwi TV broadcasters are hoping to turn that around. SPADA President Irene Gardiner says these shows were originally funded by advertising revenue - which has dried up in recent years. "What's happened in our local industry is because of years and years of the big tech-ers operating here without regulation - advertising revenue has massively reduced and the spend that the big networks have for local content has basically gone down." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:25:36 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/laura-mcclure-act-mp-on-the-partys-criticisms-of-acc-measures-focused-on-race/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/laura-mcclure-act-mp-on-the-partys-criticisms-of-acc-measures-focused-on-race/ ACT is criticising ACC measures that aim to reduce disproportionate workplace injuries among Māori and Pasifika. It's written to the ACC Minister, asking if targets with an ethnic focus match a Cabinet requirement for need-based public service. Act MP Laura McClure says she hasn't seen evidence to back the targets. "It's completely lazy - and I actually think it is a bit racist to say one particular group of people needs specific targeted training." ACC says it's confident its services are based on need, not race. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:58:56 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-plans-to-adjust-familyboost-after-ird-gets-eligibility-numbers-wrong/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-plans-to-adjust-familyboost-after-ird-gets-eligibility-numbers-wrong/ The Finance Minister is preparing to tweak the Family Boost payment plan, admitting IRD had the wrong numbers on eligible families. Data to April 9 reveals 249 families received the maximum payment of $975 dollars a quarter - since the scheme came into effect last year.  Nicola Willis had said 21,000 families were eligible when launching the policy, but now concedes the modelling was wrong. She says she wants to make sure families in need get the money. "We put aside hundreds of millions of dollars for this policy because the uptake has been lower than the IRD basically estimated - we're not on track to actually get all that money out the door." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:38:55 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-the-government-incorrectly-estimating-familyboost-eligibility/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-the-government-incorrectly-estimating-familyboost-eligibility/ There's a new push for changes to the FamilyBoost scheme, after the Government incorrectly estimated the number of families eligible. New data shows 249 families have received the maximum payment of $975 dollars a quarter since the scheme came into effect last year.  21,000 were originally forecast to be eligible. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explains the impacts that come with this. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:23:42 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-the-fatal-stabbing-of-a-shopkeeper-in-darwin/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-the-fatal-stabbing-of-a-shopkeeper-in-darwin/ An elderly man was recently the victim of a fatal stabbing in Darwin - prompting outrage and concern from residents. Northern Territory Police have arrested the 18-year-old suspect over the death of  Linford Feick, 71, who ran the Friendly Grocer store in Nightcliff in the region's north. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the 18-year-old had only just been granted bail for sexual assault charges - and shouldn't have been out. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:13:32 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-nz-crickets-new-partnership-with-north-americas-major-league-cricket/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-nz-crickets-new-partnership-with-north-americas-major-league-cricket/ Embattled ventures into America in other sports aren't swaying New Zealand Cricket boss Scott Weenink's confidence in their new investment. They've become the first national body in the code to invest in a franchise T20 league - taking a stake in an expansion team in North America's Major League Cricket. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:55:37 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-bishop-transport-minister-on-the-south-auckland-mill-road-project-getting-an-additional-funding-boost/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-bishop-transport-minister-on-the-south-auckland-mill-road-project-getting-an-additional-funding-boost/ The wheels are in motion for South Auckland's Mill Road project. Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced $91.1 million has been approved for completing design and consent work on the Manukau to Alfriston sections. It includes a four-lane general traffic corridor, with a westbound bus lane at the northern end. Bishop says the road will be tolled - allowing the road users to help pay the cost of the road. "All the new Roads of National Significance that we want to build around the country - we said, as a starting point, they will be tolled, because that's a way of bringing forward the investment." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:48:40 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-popes-body-being-moved-to-st-peters-basilica/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-popes-body-being-moved-to-st-peters-basilica/ Pope Francis' body has been moved to St Peter's Basilica, in front of crowds of worshippers.  The late pontiff lies in a simple coffin of wood and zinc, wearing a red robe with a rosary in his hands.  The Pope's coffin will remain there following the Liturgy until his funeral on Saturday. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says crowds are coming in to pay tribute - and tens of thousands will be expected to come through in the coming days. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:56:08 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-nicola-willis-rejecting-claims-of-political-interference-on-the-reserve-bank/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-nicola-willis-rejecting-claims-of-political-interference-on-the-reserve-bank/ The Finance Minister has adamantly denied any suggestions of the Government trying to interfere in the Reserve Bank. Critics have raised concerns that the Reserve Bank's temporary Governor and Chair are acting to appeal to Nicola Willis' interests. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:42:45 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/stephanie-batchelor-milford-asset-management-expert-on-the-sections-of-the-market-that-have-held-up/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/stephanie-batchelor-milford-asset-management-expert-on-the-sections-of-the-market-that-have-held-up/ Despite the negative press and volatile climate, some financial markets have managed to hold up solidly throughout 2025. The consumer staples industry - food, beverages, household products - and all the brands tied to that sector have managed to stay strong throughout the year. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:35:52 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-does-winston-peters-have-a-point-about-rnz/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-does-winston-peters-have-a-point-about-rnz/ Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame, host of Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Labour wants Chris Luxon to tell Winston Peters to back off after the latter had a fiery interview on RNZ this morning - and his threat to cut RNZ's funding off. Was he right? Was it appropriate? New Zealand is pledging more money and support for Ukraine - do we agree with this move? LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:30:04 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rob-nichol-nz-rugby-players-association-ceo-on-the-new-brain-health-screening-service-for-rugby-players/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rob-nichol-nz-rugby-players-association-ceo-on-the-new-brain-health-screening-service-for-rugby-players/ New Zealand now has access to a brain health screening service - lauded by a former All Black - designed to identify and support those with dementia and other cognitive issues. All professional rugby players, no matter their age or stage, encounter brain health concerns attached to concussions or repeat head knocks. A new online test, designed by medical experts and rolled out by World Rugby in Ireland, Australia, Wales and South Africa has now been launched in New Zealand. NZ Rugby Players Association CEO Rob Nichol says these tests are incredibly thorough - and these results are sent over to experts to set up potential appointments.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:16:50 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-23-april-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-23-april-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 23 April 2025, two days, two shocking twists in the case of the disappearance of John Beckenridge and his stepson Mike. The Herald's senior crime reporter Anna Leask tells Heather why a key witnessed changed his story at the last minute. Donald Trump says huge tariffs on Chinese goods will come down in a first sign of a major backdown. Former ambassador to the US Tim Groser speaks to Heather about when to take Trump at his word - and when not to. Plus, the Huddle gets fiery over Winston Peters' attack on RNZ - was it inappropriate or did he have a point? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:11:44 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-winstons-attacks-on-rnz-arent-that-shocking/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-winstons-attacks-on-rnz-arent-that-shocking/ Winston's in trouble with the opposition again, isn't he? He's in trouble with the opposition - yet again, someone in the opposition's gone crying to daddy, calling on the Prime Minister to sort Winston Peters out. I mean, last time this happened, it was because he was mean to old 'Bussy Galore'. This time, it's because he's threatened to defund Radio New Zealand. Now he did this this morning in what I consider to be a highly entertaining tantrum, actually, because he got cross at RNZ for getting cross at him because he wants to define what a woman is in law. Now, this crying to daddy business that's going on about Winston is utterly pointless, and I bet you Labour knows it, but they're doing it anyway.  But it's pointless because number one, you and I both know that Luxon is not going to sort out Winston Peters.  Luxon needs Winston more than Winston needs Luxon right now. And number two, Winston is not wrong. Radio New Zealand looks like it is going to lose funding in the upcoming budget - or at least that's the rumour doing the rounds at the moment. And if RNZ doesn't lose funding, it should lose funding - because it got a funding boost that was enormous under Labour. It got a $25 million a year injection under Labour. That was a boost of 60 percent. That's huge. I do not know of any other major media organization in this country that has had a revenue increase during this prolonged recession. And what's more, despite all of that money, objectively, they're doing a cruddy job - because have a look at what's going on with their audience numbers. They have had an enormous decline in the people listening to them in the last 5 years. When Winston accused Radio New Zealand of having a woke left bias, there will be plenty of people around this country who perhaps used to listen and don't anymore or don't listen for whatever reason, but there'll be plenty of people who would have been nodding their head in agreement with Winston once they heard that he'd said that. Now, look, I know this is politics, so maybe Labour sees an opportunity here to play the hero for Radio New Zealand's audience who are horrified at what Winston said, and fair play to Labour. They can do what they want, it's politics. But I doubt this is going to be a big vote winner, because frankly, the number of voters who now nowadays care very deeply about protecting the media seems to be at an all-time low. And also, don't forget this - it's hardly a shock, is it? Winston Peters attacks the media. I mean, that could have been a headline every year for the last 40 years, couldn't it? LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:05:24 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/tim-groser-former-nz-ambassador-to-the-us-on-trump-hinting-towards-a-u-turn-on-china-tariffs/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/tim-groser-former-nz-ambassador-to-the-us-on-trump-hinting-towards-a-u-turn-on-china-tariffs/ It's looking more and more likely that Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for a u-turn on the tariffs implemented on Chinese goods. Tariffs are currently sitting at 145 percent - but Trump recently claimed they'll 'come down substantially, but it won't be zero'. Former NZ ambassador to the US Tim Groser says it's unclear what will happen next - given all the uncertainty Trump's economic policies have created. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:47:17 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simon-laube-early-childhood-council-chief-executive-on-the-government-announcing-a-regulatory-refresh-for-the-sector/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simon-laube-early-childhood-council-chief-executive-on-the-government-announcing-a-regulatory-refresh-for-the-sector/ The wait continues for the Early Childhood Education sector - which has long called for a regulatory refresh.  Cabinet has agreed to 15 changes intended to improve child safety, access to care and centre viability. Early Childhood Council chief executive Simon Laube says it's hard not to get excited about the prospect of changes. "The only thing that's difficult is - we've got to wait another 18 months to get that actually done, but it's great to have a timeline." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:28:09 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nureddin-abdurahman-wellington-city-councillor-on-the-portuguese-millipedes-impacting-owhiro-bay/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nureddin-abdurahman-wellington-city-councillor-on-the-portuguese-millipedes-impacting-owhiro-bay/ There's claims Portuguese millipedes are wreaking havoc in Wellington's Owhiro Bay - and should be declared a pest.  The many-legged creatures have been invading homes in the small suburb at night.    City Councillor Nureddin Abdurahman says he's heard the problem is spreading beyond Owhiro Bay to wider Wellington.  He says if someone visits the nearby Red Rocks, millipedes could be taken into ecologically protected areas like Zealandia.  "If it's impossible to eradicate then it needs to be contained." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:08:02 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/joe-carr-regional-council-transport-committee-chair-on-the-governments-plan-for-a-new-northern-expressway/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/joe-carr-regional-council-transport-committee-chair-on-the-governments-plan-for-a-new-northern-expressway/ The Government has unveiled a new Northern Expressway that goes over Northland's Brynderwyn Hills rather than around. It's released its planned route for Northern Expressway taking it from Warkworth east of State Highway one, over the hills to the east of the current route,  then through Whangarei. This comes instead of a proposed bypass to the west. Northland Regional Council Transport Committee Chair Joe Carr has voiced support for this move.  "People aren't secure in making decisions to do with holidaying and investing in Northland, so it's pretty serious stuff." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:51:37 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/anna-leask-nz-herald-senior-crime-reporter-on-a-witness-retracting-an-earlier-claim-about-the-beckenridge-case/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/anna-leask-nz-herald-senior-crime-reporter-on-a-witness-retracting-an-earlier-claim-about-the-beckenridge-case/ There's another twist in the puzzling disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge - missing from Southland since 2015. During a Coronial hearing in Christchurch today, a witness retracted his earlier claim his cousin had told him he'd helped the pair flee. The father and stepson's car was found in wild sea near the Catlins - below an 88-metre cliff, with no bodies.  Herald reporter Anna Leask says the witness made a complete turnaround  after being shown his police statement. "He read through his statement and said - that's what the police have, in this document, that I didn't say it and I never said that and he didn't say this to me." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:36:39 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-chris-bishop-unveiling-the-new-northland-expressway/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-chris-bishop-unveiling-the-new-northland-expressway/ Good news for Northlanders - as the Government settles on the Northern Expressway option. The new route will run from Warkworth, and be built over the Brynderwyn Hills east of the current route, then through Whangārei.  The road across the Brynderwyns has suffered continued closures, since 2023's severe weather.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's tipped to be a costly project - but a new road is needed. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:29:47 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mitch-mccann-us-correspondent-on-donald-trump-backing-pete-hegseth-after-second-signal-chat-leak/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mitch-mccann-us-correspondent-on-donald-trump-backing-pete-hegseth-after-second-signal-chat-leak/ Donald Trump has confirmed he's standing 'strongly' behind Pete Hegseth after reports claim he leaked more military plans. Hegseth's wife, lawyer and brother were included on a Signal group chat, where he shared detailed plans about an operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This comes one month after a journalist released messages between top US officials after accidentally being added to their group chat. US correspondent Mitch McCann says Donald Trump has 'dug his heels in' and he's reluctant to let go of Hegseth as US Secretary of Defence.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:13:11 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-charnze-nicoll-klokstad-confirming-hell-stay-with-the-warriors-until-2027/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-charnze-nicoll-klokstad-confirming-hell-stay-with-the-warriors-until-2027/ Relief for Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad after putting pen to paper with the NRL club. The 29-year-old will stay at Mt Smart until the end of the 2027 campaign. Nicoll-Klokstad says he couldn't imagine being anywhere else, following reports linking him to a move to UK's Super League. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:52:47 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/richard-hills-auckland-councillor-unveils-new-proposed-plan-for-management-of-wait%C4%81kere-ranges/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/richard-hills-auckland-councillor-unveils-new-proposed-plan-for-management-of-wait%C4%81kere-ranges/ An Auckland Councillor says a new management plan for the Waitākere Ranges is about consultation - not decision-making.  The council wants to set up a regional committee, jointly controlled by Council-and-Government, alongside tangata whenua.  Richard Hills says it's a sounding board, and final decisions would still be made by the council and local boards. He says it would make an already existing process easier - putting all the usual groups consulted in one place.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:44:18 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-king-charles-paying-tribute-to-the-pope/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-king-charles-paying-tribute-to-the-pope/ King Charles has spoken out after the death of Pope Francis - and says he touched the lives of so many through his care for both people and the planet.  The monarch says he sends his most heartfelt condolences to the Church Francis served with such resolve, and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning his loss.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says the pair got to have one last meeting before the Pope passed. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:45:10 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rowena-duncum-the-country-host-on-chicken-exports-returning-to-normal-after-bird-flu-outbreak/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rowena-duncum-the-country-host-on-chicken-exports-returning-to-normal-after-bird-flu-outbreak/ Chicken exports are returning to normal after a bird flu outbreak in Otago last year. Last December, New Zealand experienced its first confirmed case of avian influenza on an Otago egg farm and thousands of chickens were culled. While the outbreak was contained to the Hillgrove farm, measures were taken to prevent further spread, including surveillance and temporary suspension of chicken exports. The Country's Rowena Duncum explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:31:35 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-pope-francis-was-a-disappointing-pope/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-pope-francis-was-a-disappointing-pope/ First of all, can I just say to all Catholics, condolences, obviously, over the passing of the Pope.  It's a big moment for the Catholic Church.  I enjoyed this Pope.  He seemed a little bit more fun than his predecessors, didn't he? He loved football, he loved saying things that got him in trouble, carried his own luggage.  Seems like a normal guy, right? A normal guy who became the Pope.  But if I'm honest with myself, setting that all to one side, I think he was ultimately quite disappointing as the Pope, wasn't he?  Because he said a lot of stuff about wanting to be more liberal and be more inclusive, but he actually didn't do anything, did he?  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church regards gay people.  He didn't change anything about the way that the Catholic Church treats divorced people.  He didn't change anything about the fact that women are completely excluded from serving as clergy in the Catholic Church.  Now obviously, a generous explanation of this is that he tried but couldn't, because the Catholic Church is massive.  I mean, there are 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, spanning a huge number of countries, completely different views, and changing something that big and that diverse and actually really fundamentally that conservative, takes a really long time.  And so he did what he could, what he did was enough.  It was enough to kind of set people, set the wheels in motion, if you like, get people talking about being a bit more kind to gay people and divorced people in particular, and that in time, he's planted the seeds that will then come to fruition in years and decades and Lord, maybe even centuries from here.  And maybe that's right.  Maybe that's exactly what he's done.  But then, you know, he was chosen as pope by 3/4 of cardinals, which means that 3/4 of those dudes knew that they were choosing a liberal guy, and they were ready for a liberal guy.  So I look at that, I think that he had a little bit more latitude than he actually used, even for just one change, in just one of those areas, maybe he could have done it.  Also, while I love the fact that he was humble, he lived in a hostel and not a palace, he drove around in a cruddy car and not a flash limousine. He carried his own luggage, washed people's feet in public.  I have to be honest with myself as well about that.  That was performative, and he surely understood what he was doing.  He did those things to be seen.  But did he actually do anything to change the fact that the Catholic Church hoards all of its wealth and lives in opulence of upper levels?  Did he actually do anything beyond this performance?  Now, some commentators reckon that the real test of his legacy is going to be whether the next Pope, the next one that's chosen, is as liberal as he is and can actually push the church just a little bit more in that liberal direction.  And if that does happen, then maybe Francis can be credited with having started some real change within the Catholic Church.  And so, as in most cases, time will really be the judge of his legacy.  But I'll tell you what, right here, if you had told me in 2013 when he was appointed Pope that he would die with nothing changed in the church, I wouldn't have believed it.  So I'm disappointed.  Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:22:00 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-how-will-pope-francis-be-remembered/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-how-will-pope-francis-be-remembered/ Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88. He sparked plenty of discussion and debate in his time in the role - what did we think of him? MetService copped some backlash over their use of the Emergency Management alerts over the weekend. Should we be able to expect better forecasts and weather warnings from our forecasters? New research shows over half of Kiwis are feeling overwhelmed by phone notifications. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:19:36 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-22-april-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-22-april-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 22 April 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Sir David Moxon, tells Heather what the late Pope was like. NZ First leader Winston Peters explains why we need a legal definition of what makes a woman (and a man). Ukraine's ambassador to NZ reacts to news that NZ has committed to training Ukrainian troops until the end of 2026 - but what could end the war before then? A neuroscientist explains what you should do if your phone notifications give you anxiety. Plus, on the Huddle, two Catholics on the Pope's death, why Josie reckons she's a cafe catholic and why Tim wants to baptise Heather's kids. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:11:49 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nick-brunsdon-infometrics-principal-economist-on-goods-exports-going-up-by-19-percent/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nick-brunsdon-infometrics-principal-economist-on-goods-exports-going-up-by-19-percent/ There's been some positive trade news. Stats NZ data shows goods exports rose 19 percent to $7.6 billion in March - compared to the same time a year ago. Milk powder, butter and cheese rose 35 percent to $2.3 billion. Goods imports rose 12 percent to $6.6 billion. Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon unpacked the factors. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:08:31 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-unveils-plan-to-bring-down-deficit-in-2025-budget/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-unveils-plan-to-bring-down-deficit-in-2025-budget/ There's less than a month to go until the 2025 Budget is unveiled - and the Finance Minister has been clear about the goals she aims to tackle. Nicola Willis says New Zealand has been in a significant deficit since 2019, and she's determined to get back into surplus by 2027/2028. She explained getting the country back into surplus will help to pay down debt. "We're borrowing every day right now to keep our hospitals, schools and police going - but we can't do that forever as a country, we need to get the books back in balance." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:55:41 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/kathryn-berkett-neuroscientist-on-the-new-research-revealing-over-half-of-us-feel-over-run-by-phone-notifications/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/kathryn-berkett-neuroscientist-on-the-new-research-revealing-over-half-of-us-feel-over-run-by-phone-notifications/ A new study has revealed another significant impact our phones are having on our mental health. New research reveals half of all New Zealanders over 18 now feel overrun by notifications on their phones - particularly those in the Gen Z cohort.  Neuroscientist Kathryn Berkett says our devices are training us to be on alert for anything - and those anxious feelings aren't good for our overall well-being. "We don want to know that people care about us and like us- so that's all we're asking people. Not to walk away from it, but to control it, to have a bit more control rather than it controlling you." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:38:18 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/winston-peters-nz-first-leader-explains-why-the-definitions-of-men-and-women-need-to-be-put-into-law/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/winston-peters-nz-first-leader-explains-why-the-definitions-of-men-and-women-need-to-be-put-into-law/ Winston Peters says the term 'woman' needs protection - by a bill legally defining it as an adult human biological female.  MP Jenny Marcroft's proposed Members bill would legislate gender to biological sex, essentially meaning transgender people could not legally align with their identities. The New Zealand First leader says having to write the law this way is unusual, but it has become 'critical'.  "And the fact of the matter is - that this is a case where women, who are deserving protection and support in many other occasions, are simply not getting it in our law." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:21:17 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/anna-leask-nz-herald-senior-crime-reporter-on-the-new-developments-that-came-out-around-the-beckenridge-case/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/anna-leask-nz-herald-senior-crime-reporter-on-the-new-developments-that-came-out-around-the-beckenridge-case/ More questions have been raised after a twist in the disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge in 2015. The pair disappeared after John Beckenridge broke a court order and took his 11-year-old stepson from his Invercargill school.  A coronal hearing into the case adjourned in 2023 - but has resumed with five new witnesses.  A friend allegedly told people they'd assisted them, and that they're alive. Senior NZ Herald crime reporter, Anna Leask, says police were made aware of the story mid-last year.  "I think that's one of the big questions that will be asked - why did it come out when it did?" LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:00:10 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sir-david-moxon-former-representative-to-the-holy-see-on-the-death-of-pope-francis/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sir-david-moxon-former-representative-to-the-holy-see-on-the-death-of-pope-francis/ The openness and compassion of Pope Francis may carry over to the next pontiff to take up his title.  The Head of the Catholic Church died last night after a stroke - he was 88.  A period of mourning has begun.  Worshippers will flock to the Vatican in the coming days to farewell Pope Francis, including the Cardinals who will elect his successor.  Former representative to the Holy See, Sir David Moxon, says the Pope chose most of the Cardinals - so he'd expect them to value a warm and loving Church. "I think that it would be highly likely that the next Pope would be someone who would respect the pontificate of Pope Francis." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:35:14 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-new-zealand-first-calling-for-the-definition-of-woman-to-be-etched-into-law/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-new-zealand-first-calling-for-the-definition-of-woman-to-be-etched-into-law/ New Zealand First wants the definition of a woman and a man etched into the law. Britain's Supreme Court has ruled the legal definition should relate to biological sex - excluding transgender women. Leader Winston Peters says the Bill would define a woman as an adult human biological female, and a man as an adult human biological male.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's unclear if a Bill of this nature will come to pass. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:19:45 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-peter-dutton-losing-ground-with-women-and-younger-voters/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-peter-dutton-losing-ground-with-women-and-younger-voters/ Women and younger voters have turned their backs on the opposition party ahead of the upcoming Australian election, according to new polls. The Coalition is trailing Labor 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis - and those figures get wider when broken down by demographic. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Coalition is also losing ground in key battleground areas - including Western Sydney and Western Melbourne. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:11:22 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-portia-woodman-wickliffe-re-signing-with-nzr/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-portia-woodman-wickliffe-re-signing-with-nzr/ A switch to rugby league is almost certainly off the table for rugby great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. The three-time Olympic sevens medalist is emerging from international retirement to have a crack at adding to her two Rugby World Cup gold medals later this year. Woodman-Wickliffe had a move to the NRL-W blocked this year due to her ambassadorial role for union's premier event. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:00:37 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/vasyl-myroshnychenko-ukrainian-ambassador-to-new-zealand-and-australia-on-nz-extending-assistance-to-ukraine-until-2026/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/vasyl-myroshnychenko-ukrainian-ambassador-to-new-zealand-and-australia-on-nz-extending-assistance-to-ukraine-until-2026/ Prime Minister Chris Luxon has revealed that New Zealand will be extending its military assistance in support of Ukraine's self-defence until December 2026. Luxon says this announcement signals New Zealand's ongoing commitment to Ukraine in the fact of Russia's aggression. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and Australia says Russia won't be giving up any time soon - and support is still needed. "Russia is belligerent, Russia is authoritarian, and Russia is not giving up on Ukraine, so we do still need to have a strong army - and New Zealand's Government is making a very significant contribution to improve on our military capabilities, for which we are extremely thankful." LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:40:37 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-the-uk-supreme-court-ruling-that-the-legal-definition-of-a-woman-is-based-on-biological-sex/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-the-uk-supreme-court-ruling-that-the-legal-definition-of-a-woman-is-based-on-biological-sex/ The day to day implications of a landmark UK court ruling - that the term woman refers to biological sex  - are not yet known. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled the definition of sex is binary and cannot apply to those with a gender recognition certificate. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains what this ruling could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:15:44 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-the-future-of-trumps-tariffs-and-what-it-could-mean-for-the-economy/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-the-future-of-trumps-tariffs-and-what-it-could-mean-for-the-economy/ With China and the US promising trade war escalations, economists are speculating about the future of the tariffs and how they'll impact global economies. Some have have drawn parallels with the Great Depression - and warned the world should be prepared for a downturn.  Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:04:20 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-do-we-have-to-worry-about-a-snap-election/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-do-we-have-to-worry-about-a-snap-election/ Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Craig Renney from the CTU joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour is talking up the potential of a snap election, saying 'we are ready'. Do we think there's a chance Winston Peters is going to blow it all up - or is Labour just stirring?  Do we think Simeon Brown is being too hard on the senior doctors - given how badly we need them in this country? New Zealanders’ concerns about the impact of climate change has declined to 69 percent from 76 percent in 2022 and 80 percent in 2023. Why do we care less?  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:59:16 Z