Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Trump Administration has hit out at reporters pushing back against their official line on Iran. US President Donald Trump continues to insist the strikes from the US obliterated Iran's nuclear sites – a stance Iran's Supreme Leader claims is exaggerated. Fox News' Pentagon Correspondent Jennifer Griffin questioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a press conference, asking if the White House was certain all the highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordow Mountain – the location hit by the US. US Correspondent Kirk Clyatt joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to break down the latest developments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 27 June. 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.

The high street tailor "Crane Brothers" has been a fixture on the street for years - and it will remain so for even longer. Murray Crane - the man behind the business - has signed to keep the business in it's current location for another 25 years. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "[on High Street] we're seeing tenancies being refilled and leases being signed." Crane said that despite the CBD's post-COVID drop in footfall, he's confident in his decision to stay put.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO Sir Russell Coutts has today announced the City of Sails as the second stop of next season's world tour. Auckland Unlimited revealed their million-dollar investment to the January regatta, which returned $5million. Head of Major Events Michelle Hooper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they're looking to do it all again and continue to have Auckland host in the future. She says the intention by all parties is to have Auckland host in 2027 and beyond - but they just have to sort out long-term funding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Speaker of the house is being taken to the High Court for musical torture during the 2022 anti-mandate protest. A girl from Northland, who was 11 at the time, says Mallard weaponised songs like Disney's Let it Go - causing mental anguish, humiliation and de-humanisation. Her lawyer, Tudor Clee says blasting someone with music is a military-style torture technique. He says this is the first time this technique has been intentionally used on children. The girl is seeking 40 thousand dollars in damages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A draft Inland Revenue briefing supports lifting the GST rate if required - and notes tax credits could help people on lower incomes. The IRD briefing also brought up the lack of a capital gains tax, but did not endorse any specific view on it. Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Heather du Plessis-Allan that lifting GST is a fast and efficient way to raise revenue. But he says while quick, it's much harder on lower-income people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes Canterbury's aerospace sector will continue going from strength to strength, with a permanent test flight space confirmed at Tawhaki. The National Aerospace centre, west of Banks Peninsula, can now hold tests without continual re-permits. Tāwhaki executive director John Holt told Heather du Plessis-Allan this helps remove red tape and paperwork, adding that it's difficult in the early construction stages, to find a safe aircraft testing place. The sector now aims to boost its economic value from 250 million in 2023, to one billion dollars a year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a strong chance that this has been Moana Pasifika's best and last season in super rugby. Do you want them to have another one? And if so, how much should the taxpayer put in to save it? Would you pay $7million? Because that's apparently what they're short. The Whānau Ora money is gone and it's understood that Sky is pulling its sponsorship of half a million dollars a year. World rugby also wants to either reduce or completely cut the money it puts in. That's around $1.7million a year. So, for a club that costs about 12 m a year to run, it is short around $7million. My answer to the first question I asked you … is yes. Moana Pasifika should be saved. There is a very good reason to have a super ruby team dedicated to giving professional opportunities to Tongan and Samoan rugby players. They were also one of the best success stories of the season. My answer to the second question is that the taxpayer should pay nothing. I can almost guarantee there will be a request for taxpayer help, but this is not a taxpayer problem. This is a rugby problem. This is one for NZ rugby and rugby Australia to fix. They are the ones who own the Super Rugby competition, and the ones who make money off the broadcast deal from it. I hope they can sort it out though because in a rugby competition that failed to excite people during the regular season, Moana Pasifika were one of the better stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows Nigel Farage and the Reform Party would win more seats than Labour and the Conservatives in the next general election. Political analysts have revealed that Farage and Reform would win 278 seats if a general election were to take place tomorrow - the most of any party. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the next election is four years away - but Prime Minister Starmer's team should be taking this data into account going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show Nike's stock has plummeted 68 percent from its November 2021 peak. Experts say it's a textbook 'fallen angel' - a former market darling now trading at beaten-down prices. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group recently ousted chair Toby Williams. Williams lost the chairmanship to Marlborough provincial vice president Richard Dawkins during the council annual meeting. The Country host Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! We recently found out Whānau Ora funding has been used to fund Moana Pasifika. What do we make of this? 15-storey apartment buildings will soon go up in some Auckland suburbs near strategic train stations - and the locals aren't happy. Are the detractors being NIMBY's - or are people right to be concerned? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How disappointing is the revelation that Whānau Ora money has been used to fund the Moana Pasifika rugby team? How disappointing is that? And this is not a criticism of the team. I mean, the team has been one of the rockstar stories of the Super Rugby season. This is about the funding. This is the kind of revelation, I reckon, that does huge damage to public confidence and Government use of taxpayer money. Because this is money that, to our minds, is supposed to be going to some of the most vulnerable people, to helping Māori and Pasifika families with things like health, medical appointments, baby jabs, education, housing, that kind of thing. But instead, we find out it's been going to fund a rugby team for elite athletes - and this has been going on for at least 2 years. One of the outfits that's contracted to spend final order funds, Pacifica Medical Association Group - we're going to call them PMA - has been giving $770,000 a year to Moana Pasifika. Now, if they do it again this year - we haven't got the financials - but if they do it again at the same level, it will total $2.3 million. That's a lot of money. Now, credit where credit is due, credit to the new Whānau Ora minister or to his department. Either of which appears to have already stopped this in its tracks. They've taken the contract off PMA, given it to a new outfit - and that outfit has to abide by a much tighter set of measurements around the spending and the money and a bit more clarity about whether they're getting their bang bang for their buck when they spend the dollars. But once again, even though it has been stopped - and credit where credit is due - taxpayer money has been wasted. And the lesson here, if there is a lesson, is that it is absolutely fine to hand out taxpayer money to a third party. But if you do that, there have got to be rules and there has got to be supervision. Otherwise, money that we all think is going to families who need it could instead be propping up a rugby team. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 June 2025, Labour MP Willie Jackson reflects on the sudden death of his friend and Maori Party MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Should taxpayer money be used to pay for a rugby team? Heather dives into the Moana Pasifika story with NZ Herald senior journalist Kate MacNamara. The drug that made Oprah skinny is coming to New Zealand from next week. Novo Nordisk's Dr Ana Svensson tells Heather Wegovy could potentially help up to 2.8 million overweight Kiwis. NZ Rugby's Mike Hester gets grilled by Heather over the incident of referee abuse that's led to all rugby being postponed by the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union. Plus, the Huddle debates Nimbyism in the light of a Government directive that will see 15 storey apartment buildings in Auckland suburbs. 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.

Workers taking part in partial strikes could soon have their pay docked under new legislation coming out of Parliament. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden recently confirmed the changes to the Employment Relations Act - and claimed they would be fairer for workers. PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says employers will now be allowed to dock 10 percent of pay for workers who participate in low-level strike action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been raised after Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union cancelled a series of Saturday matches. The provincial union made the call after the abuse of a referee at last Saturday's game between Kapiti College and Mana College, which saw him escorted to his car out of safety fears. NZ Rugby's Mike Hester says there was abuse from spectators that prompted the match getting called off. "A lot of these things can happen on the sideline with chat from spectators to coaches and the like. The details of it - again, it depends on who you talk to - but certainly, it was sufficient enough that the referee had to make a decision." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise faces questions over disclosure and transparency at ownership level. It recently came to light that the team received taxpayer money indirectly through Whanau Ora contracts. NZ Herald journalist Kate McNamara says it's unclear how much public money funded the team - but investigations are ongoing. "It may be that all of their funding came from the Whanau Ora contract - but it may be that there's a small amount of funding from another source in there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Willie Jackson will attend Kemp's tangi in Taihape over the weekend. Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died today aged 50, following a battle with kidney disease. He says Labour isn't thinking about the by-election triggered in Tāmaki Makaurau. "We'll turn our mind to it next week - and we don't mind having a chat about it as we get into it. But it's not something we should probably be talking about at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not everyone's a fan of Government's efforts to build taller in central Auckland suburbs. The Government is requiring the council to legislate for apartments at least 15 storeys high around the Mount Eden, Kingsland, and Morningside Stations. It will be 10 storeys near the Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue terminals. Albert-Eden Local Board Chair, Kendyl Smith, says this feels rushed, and hasn't included any consultation with residents. "So to be told overnight that you might have a 15-storey block beside you is very unpalatable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament adjourned early today, after marking the death of Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Kemp died aged 50 following kidney disease. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says this came as a shock - with tributes coming in from many key politicians. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The jury in the trial of triple-murder accused Erin Patterson is edging towards beginning deliberations in Australia's Victoria. The 50-year-old also faces a charge of attempted murder over a toxic beef Wellington lunch she served to her estranged husband's family in 2023. She maintains her innocence - claiming it was a terrible accident. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Justice Christopher Beale has left clear instructions for the jury - and told them to resist bias, prejudice and sympathy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union chief executive Corey Kennett says he is drawing a line in the sand by canning all rugby matches this weekend after a referee was so seriously abused he had to be escorted to his car over safety fears. Last month, the union said in response to escalating abuse towards match officials - highlighted by a person threatening to stab a referee - that they would cancel all senior club games if behaviour didn't improve. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The count-down's on for New Zealand chemist sales of weight-loss drug Wegovy. A pharmacist has told our newsroom the hunger-suppressing drug will be available on prescription from next Tuesday Novo Nordisk Oceania Senior Medical Director Dr Ana Svensson says the cost of the drug is expected to be around $500, as it's not funded by Pharmac. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is set to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs - with plans to join NATO's airborne nuclear mission. Downing Street has labelled the move "the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation." UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these jets can also drop conventional weapons. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports indicate the global housing market has entered a significant downturn. Existing home sales have neared recessionary levels and new home sales are expected to fall. Milford Asset Management's Brendan Larsen explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports reveal the Government did get lobbied by the Banking Association over a proposed law change to prevent costly class action lawsuits. Minister Scott Simpson claimed this wasn't the case earlier - and claimed the banks hadn't called for it. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and Nick Leggett of Infrastructure NZ joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's renewed debate to introduce means-testing for NZ Super. Is this a discussion we need to have? Donald Trump used the f-bomb when criticising Iran and Israel in front of reporters. How do we feel about the President using profanities? Can we say that Trump has succeeded by getting NATO countries to commit to increase their defence spending to 5 percent? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadband company Chorus is celebrating an endorsement from the Infrastructure Commission for its planed extension. Chorus seeks to extend its ultrafast broadband network to another 160,000 homes and businesses at a cost of between $2.5 billion and $3 billion. Chorus CEO Mark Aue says now is the time to boost New Zealand's rural communities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 25 June 2025, New Zealand is not getting bang for buck when we spend on infrastructure, but is the Infrastructure Commission really telling us anything new? Israel's ambassador Alon Roth speaks to Heather to discuss the shaky ceasefire with Iran. Auckland's skyline is about to radically change after the Government decided it will force the council to allow 15-storey apartment buildings near central auckland train stations. Auckland councillor Richard Hills explains which areas will be affected. Plus, the Huddle debates whether we should cut off the more than 9000 people who receive super while also earning more than $200,000. 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.

Have you caught up on the drama between the academics and David Seymour? Can I just respectfully suggest that the academics need to harden up? They are upset because David Seymour has published a 'Victim of the Day' on social media, and he seems to be doing it reasonably regularly. It's featuring academics who are upset about the Regulatory Standards Bill - and then it's mocking them for that. Now, they're not happy. They're accusing him of breaching the Cabinet Manual. They say that his posts are unethical, unprofessional, potentially dangerous to those who are targeted, and that he's trying to silence them. Thereby proving his point that they really are victims, aren't they? Now, I'm surprised at how thin-skinned these academics are. Let's be honest about it, none of us like to be skewered. It can sting. But it kind of comes with the territory, doesn't it? If you are in public, and especially if you choose to put yourself in public - which these academics are doing by choosing to, for example, pen opinion pieces criticizing the bill - then they are inviting a response, and they cannot dictate what that response is. And actually, I could be wrong, but what I've seen doesn't seem that harsh. It just seems like a right of reply, but tongue in cheek. Context is important here as well, because this David versus academic spat has actually been going on a fair bit. David Seymour, in my personal opinion, has been given a bit of a rough time by some academics - one in particular who I think is the worst offender. She has, in the past, said that she hopes he doesn't have kids, and then called his Government a fascist white supremacist Government, which certainly makes his response look adult. Now, if academics - and I'm not saying it's the same academics here by any stretch - but collectively, if they want to hand it out, they have to also be prepared to suck it up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope among Kiwi football fans after Auckland City FC bounces back from some disappointing matches. After conceding a whopping 16 goals in their first two matches, the Oceania representative managed to draw 1-1 with South America's Boca Juniors in Nashville. Leon Grice, a businessman linked to Auckland City FC, says this feels like a step forward. "They play all over the world, they have the ability to rise and play." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussions are circling on whether now's the time to means-test Superannuation. 2023 Census data shows 33,000 over-65s earned $100,00-to-$200,000 dollars - and more than 9,000 topped that figure. Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson says if there is a strong economic argument Super isn't affordable, means-testing could be worth it. "If you're earning more than, say, $180,000 a year and you're claiming the super, then the cost to the taxpayer might be questioned." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran and Israel have had their first quiet night in almost two weeks, as a fragile ceasefire continues to hold. President Donald Trump is slamming a leaked intelligence assessment suggesting this week's US strikes have left Iran's nuclear programmes largely intact. He's posted calling it one of the most successful military strikes in history. New Zealand's Israeli ambassador Alon Roth-Snir says it has at least removed the imminent nuclear threat. "We are very, very thankful for what President Trump and the United States army have done." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for New Zealand to get realistic about our infrastructure. The Infrastructure Commission's released a 30-year draft plan today for future builds and upgrades to roads, hospitals and public buildings. It highlights how we're not getting value, despite spending a lot. Commission CEO, Geoff Cooper, says a large issue is our lack of spending on maintaining existing infrastructure. He explained we are running our assets into the ground, so repairs cost more - leaving less money for everything else. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can New Zealand plug its infrastructure gap by adopting spatial planning systems - or funding investment through user-pricing? They're among ideas mooted in a 30-year infrastructure investment draft, proposed by the Infrastructure Commission. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reports claim US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities did not destroy the Iranian nuclear programme - and likely only set it back. Details of the initial damage assessment from the Pentagon's Defence Intelligence Agency were recently leaked and the White House has been quick to fire back against it. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump's conduct has been 'surprising' for a world leader. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oceania Football Confederation is proud of Auckland City's campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup. City bounced backed from two humbling losses by a combined 16 goals to draw 1-all with Argentinian giants Boca Juniors in Nashville. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland councillor says the Government requiring larger apartments in the neighbourhood of new CRL train stations is in line with other council requests. The Government's announced Resource Management Bill amendments to allow apartments 10 and 15 storeys high around some central city terminals. Councillor Richard Hills says it ties into requests to remove medium-density residential housing rules. "We've also asked if we can downzone or restrict some areas in flooding and hazard zones - this change will legally allow us to do that, but on the proviso that we increase capacity elsewhere." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new design for the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II has been unveiled - set to be built in St James's Park in central London. Lord Norman Foster's design team has been announced as the winner in the competition for a memorial to honour Britain's longest-reigning monarch. UK correspondent Enda Brady says a separate statue for the late King Philip will also be built. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Christchurch school kids are advocating to change the name of Rolleston Ave because of William Rolleston's involvement in leading the deadly invasion of Parihaka in Taranaki. Is there a case for a name change or should we refrain from erasing history? GPs will soon be able to diagnose ADHD - do we approve of this change or are we worried about people abusing this? Should the Government bring in rate caps for councils? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to one expert, last week's GDP figures are a sign New Zealand's economy is on the up. Stats NZ says our gross domestic product grew a strong 0.8 percent in this year's first quarter. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank Global Strategist Michael Every says Trump isn't as “nutty” as people may think he is, as there can be upsides to trade wars and geopolitical crises. The Country's Jamie Mackay caught up with him ahead of the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.