Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Right, let’s talk about the National Party accidentally letting slip that they’re selling tables at a dinner with Christopher Luxon. The story is that the Mainland Dinner will be held in Christchurch next month and if you have a few thousand dollars spare, you can go along. Dinner at Chris Luxon’s table will cost you $10,000. Dinner at a minister’s table - a senior minister’s table - will cost you $8000. And then just a dinner with, you know, normal punters, normal civilians, will cost you $5000. Now, we only know about this because Maureen Pugh shared a copy of the invitation on Facebook - not her first mistake. Newstalk ZB saw it, then it was deleted, but by then it was too late, and cue the outrage. Now, I’m not outraged by this at all, because this has been going on since at least John Key’s time. Jacinda did it as well and I don’t think it’s any different from every other example we have in our democracy of cash for access. This is how power has always worked. If you have money, you get access to people in power. Money for lobbyists, who then secure you meetings with ministers. Money for donations that mean candidates make time for you. Money for tables at the Mainland Dinner. In fact - and this is my personal opinion - I quite enjoy reading about these dinners because they give me a real-time market valuation of a political leader. Luxon is selling his table for $10,000 in 2026. Four years ago, in 2022, he was selling it for $15,000. So he’s running at a discount at the moment, isn’t he? Jacinda was selling tickets to a conference where ticket-holders could have access to her for $1800. That was five years ago. So she was more valuable at $1800 in 2021 than Luxon is right now - or than he was a year later - if you break it down and look at the cost a seat. John Key - now, if you want to hear about a baller - sold a table at a dinner for $100,000. That’s real market political valuation, isn’t it? Now, this is why I think this is valuable. It tells us how much voters and stakeholders: A) like various leaders, B) want to be seen with them, and - C) rate the chances of those leaders being elected and therefore being useful. So make of that what you will when you look at the numbers. But if you are outraged by this, you’re going to be outraged forever because cash for access will probably never change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 25 March, 2026, Jetstar's cutting flights and an aviation analyst says it's hard to know when jet fuel prices will stabilise. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters on who made the call to backtrack on removing minimum size limits for commercial fishing. We hear from an astronomer on plans to build a base on the moon. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Thomas Scrimgeour on whether they think it's worth spending $10,000 to have dinner with the prime minister. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's petrol supply has gone down, but officials say supply remains within normal levels. Just released figures are current to Sunday, when there were 48.7 days of petrol supply, down from 49.9 last Wednesday.  But diesel supply is up slightly, at 46.4 days compared to 45.5 on Wednesday. Jet fuel's at 43.4 days, down from 44.7.  Starboard Maritime Intelligence analyst Mark Douglas says there's more tankers on the way to New Zealand, so there's no significant disruption just yet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The jury's out on whether Iran and the US will come to an agreement anytime soon about ending the war.  Iran's still trading strikes with Israel - which appears less optimistic than the White House about Tehran putting pen to paper.  The US claims it's presented a 15-point plan to Iran and negotiations are taking place.  Former staffer to Marco Rubio, Matt Terrill, says the damage to Iran in this war could improve the chances of a deal being reached.  "Iran, I suspect, is really on their heels right now and recognises they are. But with that said, this is a regime that appears to never give up."   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA's new chief has unveiled an ambitious plan to create a $20 billion base on the moon. It's cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit, and will instead use the project's components to build the base.  The US is pushing to return to the moon before China sends its astronauts there around 2030.  Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki says the base seems like a fever dream.  "Since the Apollo missions, NASA has said they want to go to the moon, they want to have a long-term presence there. And they kinda haven't really solidified plans for decades." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says the decision to back down on controversial fishing rule changes was only made today.  The Government's proposal would've allowed commercial fishers to catch undersized fish - including snapper.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon says he spoke to Fisheries Minister Shane Jones this morning, and he agreed to dump the change.  But Peters says the decision was made hours before Luxon met with Jones.  "In the end, we made a decision and said - no, let's dump the darned thing, go with what people are thinking and see if we can sort it out. To tell you the truth, we'd been talking about it for days and we confirmed it very early this morning." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aviation commentator says it's hard to know when jet fuel prices will stabilise, as yet another airline cuts routes. Jetstar says it's made temporary changes to its Trans-Tasman schedule because of rising jet fuel prices from conflict in the Middle East, and other increasing costs. Routes between Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington are impacted - as well as flights to Sydney and Brisbane. Geoffrey Thomas says even if the conflict ends in the next few weeks, airlines would have to wait for flow on effects. "How long it would then take for the fuel supply line to normalise? You're probably talking a couple of months." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister's blaming human error, after using her official email to promote a National Party video to schools. Erica Stanford sent principals guidance on a new assessment system, but included a link to a Party YouTube video in which she explains the tool. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour's Ginny Andersen has voiced concerns over this - which sparked further debate in the House. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Little is known about how the war with Iran will end, despite Donald Trump saying it's won. Reuters reports Israel and the US have handed over a 15-point plan to Iran, as part of negotiations.  Meanwhile, attacks continue across the Middle East.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and VP J.D Vance will play a key role in the negotiations, but it's unlikely the Trump administration will be looking to give too much. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors utility back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is reportedly poised for a move to the UK Super League at the end of the NRL season. The Love Rugby League website claims the 32-year-old is set to sign a multi-year deal with Wakefield Trinity.  Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave addressed the rumours - and speculated on what this could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.