Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Governing parties have been quick to condemn Labour's proposed capital gains tax policy. The opposition announced the policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes. It would funnel the revenue into health. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been quick to label this scheme as 'half-baked' - and it'll likely drive the country further into debt. "I'm just pleased that New Zealand today can see Labour's alternative for what it is. It's a Labour-Te Pāti Māori-Greens Government that will tax you more, drive the country further into debt and put the economy at risk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand boss Jennie Wyllie is looking forward to mending ties with reinstated Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua. The pair have been colleagues since Taurua's appointment to lead New Zealand in 2018. Wyllie says she's pleased the pair were able to reach common ground so Taurua could return to the Silver Ferns. "She's acknowledged that, in a high-performance environment, there is a balance that needs to exist - between how do you find the edge, but also who people are. And I think we've been working on - how do we keep that balance top of mind for the well-being of these athletes?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is confident Labour's Capital Gains Tax policy can cover three free GP visits every year. The party's announced a policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes. The revenue would go into health, and creating a Medicard scheme. The Labour leader says they've checked the numbers. "We've done them based on the independent tax working group that was set up when we were last in Government. So that's the modelling that we've used in coming up with the costings for this one." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's some disappointment from a sexual education expert over new Government curriculum changes. Education Minister Erica Stanford has released her draft Year 1-to-10 curriculum for six months feedback from schools and educators. A key change is making consent education compulsory in health and physical education. But therapist and parenting educator Jo Robertson says the guidelines don't mention the word 'consent' until Year 3. "We need kids to know that if somebody touches their body that that's sexual harm and that's not okay. So for me, it doesn't quite meet the mark." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour was forced to reveal its tax policy early, after details were leaked to media over the long weekend. The party's proposed a 28 percent capital gains tax on all residential and commercial property - but not the family home. It's promising to use the revenue to fund three free GP visits for all Kiwis. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins has voiced frustration with this leak and confirmed whoever leaked the policy will get booted from the party. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dutch volleyball player convicted in 2016 of raping an underage girl has been denied a visa to Australia to compete in next month's Beach Volleyball World Championships. Steven van de Velde, now 31, was 19 when he was found guilty of sex with an underage girl. The Dutch Volleyball Association said in a statement that it was 'aware this could happen', given Australia's strict policy on issuing visas to people with convictions. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Lawson looks set to assist Max Verstappen's Formula 1 championship bid, before learning of his 2026 fate. Keen to focus on the defending champion's campaign - Red Bull have reportedly pushed their driver selection timeline until after the Qatar Grand Prix on December 1. Sportstalk host Adam Cooper explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Auckland councillor has voiced disappointment with recent misinformation concerning the fatal bus collision on Tāmaki Drive. An electric bus suffered a fatal collision with a car last week and the bus driver was killed in the flames. North Shore councillor Richard Hills says it was 'shocking' to see the number of posts criticising the EV buses - even though it was proven electric batteries weren't behind the fire. "It was a significant fire caused by the car itself, so Fire and Emergency New Zealand have confirmed that. And then Kinetic - obviously who are extremely upset they've lost a colleague - also put out a statement that the batteries were unharmed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 24 October. 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.

Te Pāti Māori's behaviour is once again a topic of discussion following bill burning and allegations of over-spending this week. Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Te Pāti Māori 'shouldn't be anywhere near Government'. Soper identified a possible link between the ongoing party controversies and it's culture of nepotism. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An NBA player and coach are among dozens of people arrested in an FBI investigation into rigged, mafia-linked poker games. Miami Heat's Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were named as those arrested. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the NBA stars were used as bait to draw players to the table with the rigged game. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prominent colorectal surgeon Frank Frizelle says it is now a necessity for dedicated cancer centres in New Zealand. The Christchurch-based surgeon believes if New Zealand does not adopt comprehensive cancer centres, the system will fail patients. Frizelle told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "it's just about trying to give adequate volumes and concentrations of resources to try and get the best value for money". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar has suggested a “situational subsidy” to support regional routes when the economy is not doing well and demand is low. Ravishankar officially took over as CEO on 20 October 2025, replacing Greg Foran who stepped down after six years. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that the implementation of a subsidy could allow for too much Government control over the agency which would be a 'complete disaster'. Seymour also addresses the legalisation of melatonin for those aged under-55. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls to investigate Prince Andrew's residence at Royal Lodge, with MPs in the UK expressing clear interest in an inquiry. Keir Starmer has indicated he is open to MPs questioning Andrew in person about his home in Windsor Great Park, where he's lived for over 20 years without paying rent. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains whether Andrew is likely to agree to this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Quality stocks' such as healthcare companies are trading at their cheapest level relative to the market in decades. This is taking place while market concentration is at record levels. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MetService says the strong winds that battered the South Island and lower North are now easing - but there are still a few things to keep an eye on. Red wind warnings have lifted for Canterbury, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha, Wellington and Wairarapa. Widespread power outages remain across Canterbury, Wairarapa, Manawatu-Whanganui, Marlborough and Southland, where some repairs could take more than a week. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks the damage further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More and more businesses are rolling back sustainability initiatives and DEI requirements, but one expert says it still pays to be progressive. The Net Zero Banking Alliance has shut down, Nestle has pulled out of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and the Government recently loosened climate reporting requirements for companies. Despite this, former Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori says it's still good to make progressive choices to boost your business. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer and political commentator Liam Hehir and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The big mega-strike took place today - what have we seen? How do we think they went? Given protesters weren't able to march on Parliament, is the political sting missing? Marama Davidson's Right to Repair Bill was scrapped last night, because Davidson herself was late to the House. How bad does this look? Do we need to teach home economics at school? Shouldn't that be the parents' job? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 October 2025, teacher union negotiator Liam Rutherford disagrees with Heather's notion that the strikes were a bit of a fizzer. Ozempic is fast becoming somewhat of a super drug - with new research linking the weight loss drug to a 20% drop of heart attacks and strokes even in people who weren't overweight. Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie is scathing of alleged drug trafficking boats being blown up at sea by the US. Former Starbucks sustainability boss Michael Kobori explains why being woke is still good for business in today's world. Plus, the Huddle disagrees vehemently with Heather on whether or not we really need home economics at school. 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.

I have to be honest with you, because it's been a little while since I sat in the home economics class in Tuakau College - so there is a fair chance that my experience is a little out of date by about 20 years and I might just make a fool of myself with what I'm about to say next. But I do not understand the angst about Erica Stanford dropping home economics from the NCEA curriculum. There is an opinion piece in The Spinoff today, and it's arguing against Erica Stanford removing this 'vital' subject from our school subject list because it's a 'moral decision,' - because, quote, 'everyone deserves to know what's in their food, how it affects their health, and how to make choices that support their overall well-being.' Now, I tend to agree with that. You should know what's going on in your food. But from what I understand, home ec is still being taught and will still be taught to years 9 and 10 in some form or another, that's not going to change. And if you cannot learn in the space of 2 years that you need to eat your fruit and your vegetables and your meat and maybe avoid the processed stuff and the sugar, then I don't have much hope that you're ever gonna learn this stuff. And what's more, we are already one of the most obese nations on this planet. So home economics hasn't done very much for us in helping us to keep ourselves healthy in the last 114 years that it's been around, has it? But also, and I think this is the most important thing, come on - did you actually learn anything in home ec? Libby, who works with us, reckons that in one class, she spent the entire class just learning how to make a sandwich. I remember setting a pot of oil on fire and and then running around with it and being taught how to put the fire out. So I suppose that's semi-helpful, but I also learned how to cut carrots, which, frankly, I should have known anyway. All of this stuff, you can learn at home. Now, home economics strikes me as one of those subjects that the country would be better off dropping altogether and replacing with another session on maths. Don't you agree? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US forces have struck another vessel alleged to be carrying drugs, this time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Reports claim two on board the vessel were killed and no US forces were harmed. Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie has voiced concerns over this incident - and claimed everyone deserves the right to a fair trial. "The process that he's doing is wrong, everyone has a right to a fair trial and they shouldn't just be executed on an assumption that they are a drug trafficker." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis will be able to buy a share in a house for as little as $100 with a new investment platform launched today that promises to break down the barriers to home ownership. Housies will allow investors to buy shares in a house and receive returns from rental income or long-term capital growth. Co-founder James Jordan says this will allow people to easily get access to a home if they invest enough. "They have skin in the game, they've got their own money in the property. The properties are all going to be new homes and they're going to look after them and we're going to support them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disproportionate number of children in state care face harm when returned home. Oranga Tamariki's annual report shows an overall increase in abuse or neglect in state care, with 530 children experiencing harm in the year ending March. That's 23 up on the previous year. Independent children's monitor, Arran Jones, says about half of children return in an unplanned way. "You've got voices of parents there saying - I just wasn't ready for my young person to come home, I've got drug and alcohol issues, I've got mental health issues I haven't been able to address, I'm not ready to have them home." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both sides of an education pay dispute claim they were always open to negotiations. The mega-strike is winding down after some 100,000 health workers, teachers, and public sector staff walked off the job. Education Minister Erica Stanford says it's disappointing - considering the Government's been willing to keep the issue at the bargaining table. NZEI's Liam Rutherford says so have they. "We've never left the negotiating table - we had three afternoons last week, the primary teachers did, trying to get an offer out of the PSC and we've got dates to go back in the coming weeks as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memories were shared of Jim Bolger as a devout Catholic, masterful farmer, family man and exceptional leader. Colleagues and family shared remembrances of the former Prime Minister, as he was laid to rest in Kapiti today. Former Prime Ministers, Governor-Generals, iwi leaders and the Māori Queen attended the funeral at Bolger's local parish. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped all the tributes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has walked back hear earlier comments calling for Kevin Rudd to resign as US ambassador. Ley earlier suggested Rudd leave the role after US President Donald Trump criticised him during a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland will finish up in the role when his current contract concludes at the end of the 2025 season. Holland confirmed his decision to All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson after the second Bledisloe Cup test match earlier this month. The players were informed today on the first day of camp ahead of tomorrow's departure for the Northern Tour. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained what we know so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has confirmed Ozempic reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 20 percent - even in patients who weren't severely overweight to start with. The study, which was led by University College London and published in The Lancet, found that weight loss accounted for only one third of this reduction. Auckland University molecular medicine professor Peter Shepherd says this is proof other factors are behind the slowdown of heart disease. "We know a few of them, we know a bit about how it effects heart tissue growth, we know a bit about the positive effects it has on the deposition of the lipids, but there's still a long way to go to fully understand its effects." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Andrew's future at Royal Lodge is in doubt after the collapse of a business deal that was intended to provide a financial lifeline. The deal would have allowed the prince to abide by the terms of his lease, by paying for the hugely expensive upkeep of the vast Windsor estate. Without it, he could face eviction from the 30-room property, on which he has not paid rent for 20 years. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the backlash further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is more than halving the number of entities that need to make climate-related disclosures. It has proposed to only require listed issuers with market capitalisations of more than $1 billion to make disclosures. Currently, the threshold is $60 million. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the changes further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More financial experts have raised concerns about an AI bubble - and what it could mean for the wider economy. Multiple AI companies are attracting the attention of investors, and this interest is projected to grow, but concerns have been raised. Milford Asset Management Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union 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! Is the Government right to get rid of its climate disclosure rules for listed companies? Did anybody actually care? Tomorrow's mega-strike is set to begin. Polls indicate over half of Kiwis support the strike. What do we make of all this? What's your secret to cooking a good sausage? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche airs his frustrations ahead of tomorrow's mega strike. Immunisation expert Dr Nikki Turner explains why there are concerns that measles is spreading undetected - and it's not just kids at risk. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace explains when you should consider switching from gas to electricity given gas prices are going through the roof. Air New Zealand's new boss took over this week, and already he's hitting turbulence. The Huddle gets into a heated argument over climate-related disclosure rules. Plus, Heather reveals her controversial method of cooking sausages. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's yet another, frankly welcome, sign that the world's climate overhype may be over, or at least correcting. The latest is that the Government has announced it's now easing the rules on how much compulsory climate reporting the big listed companies have to do. Now, I don't blame you if you feel at this minute like your eyes are about to glaze over, but do not let that happen. Because this is actually much more important than it sounds. This goes back to the bad old days of Jacinda and Grant in 2021, when the Ardern administration brought in rules forcing large, publicly listed companies to report to shareholders the impact that climate change may have on them. It was world-leading, it was ground-breaking - and it was incredibly expensive. Turner's, the car company, reckons that their first report, which only runs to seven pages, cost them $1 million to produce. Some companies have told the relevant minister, Scott Simpson, that it cost them $2 million to produce their reports. And the ones who are getting off easy here are still paying apparently close to $10,000. Veteran director Joan Withers famously complained about this in July, when she said that climate reporting was taking up more of her time than preparing financial statements, which is the actual thing that shareholders are interested in - and that is completely nuts. And for all of the money and all of the effort that these businesses were putting into it, not one carbon particle was saved from going into the atmosphere. It did not bring down anybody's emissions and that was not the point of it. It was simply to talk about it. And the money was just wasted on paperwork instead of being reinvested into the business to raise productivity, which is the thing that we should be laser-focused on in this country. Now, I applaud the Government for doing what it has done today, but it does not go far enough, because they've only eased the rules for the smaller companies. So about 88 of them will now not have to report. But 76 of the big ones are still going to be required to do this utterly pointless, expensive, unproductive exercise. If it is pointless and expensive and unproductive for the small companies, it is also pointless, expensive and unproductive for the big companies. And the Government should go further than it has today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand says it now expects to make a first-half loss of about $30 million to $55 million, before tax. It's just provided a trading update to the NZX. The national carrier says it expected a two to three percent uplift in revenue across domestic and US-bound bookings. However, this hasn't materialised and isn't evidenced in future bookings. NZ Shareholders Association head Oliver Mander says the engine issues and ongoing economic downturn are the main factors behind these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fund manager says Kiwis deserve to know the impact of their investments. The Government plans to scrap annual climate disclosures for KiwiSaver funds, and raise the reporting threshold for listed companies from $60 million dollars to $1 billion. Mindful Money founder Barry Coates says these rule changes will reduce transparency. "We're stepping backwards on what should be information that should be disclosed by companies. If you're investing in a KiwiSaver fund, do you want to know whether that KiwiSaver fund is bearing a high climate risk? I would want to know." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi company is investing in drone boats able to be used for defence - on home shores and beyond. Robotics company Syos has acquired Tauranga business Bay Dynamics. Syos CEO Sam Vye says it will strengthen their position in the surveillance and defence market. He adds underwater sabotage is a growing concern overseas. "Particularly in the EU around potential sabotage by hostile vessels or vessels from certain countries that might accidentally drag anchor or intentionally disrupt seafloor infrastructure." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing worries measles is spreading undetected through the country. Three new cases in Manawatu and Nelson were announced yesterday, bringing the total of current infections to four. Health New Zealand hasn't been able to confirm how each became infected - and is warning of a potential national outbreak. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director, Dr Nikki Turner, says four cases might not sound scary - but measles is highly infectious. "If we don't know it came from travel - then where did it come from? We do not want this bug spreading through our communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner is suggesting unions are striking to get it out of their system. At least 100,000 workers in health, education and public service are walking off the job tomorrow, protesting pay and conditions. Some picketing's moving indoors and some rallies cancelled in Wellington and Canterbury - with extreme bad weather looming. Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says despite him being willing, unions haven't stepped up to negotiate for the most of the past two weeks. "It just seems to me, based on my engagement with the unions, that they had to do this for reasons that escape me. I think it was all avoidable, it's extremely regrettable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner's again sounding a negative note over New Zealand's major health and education strike tomorrow. About 100,000 union members across various sectors will stop work across the day - expressing frustration over pay and working conditions. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is expected to be the biggest strike in New Zealand's history since the 1970s, with many unions expected to take part. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plans for a second Trump-Putin meeting to discuss the Ukraine war have been shelved, days after they were proposed. Last week, Trump said he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest to discuss the war in Ukraine. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says reports claim Russia isn't happy with some proposed terms. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High Performance Sport NZ has quietly footed the bill for an independent review and player wellbeing support in the Silver Ferns' camp amid the ongoing Dame Noeline Taurua saga. While Netball NZ grapples with the fallout following Taurua's suspension, HPSNZ has offered funding, strategic advice, and resourcing behind the scenes. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.