Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chris Hipkins says he won't discuss family matters publicly - verging on tears at a press conference this afternoon.  On Sunday, his ex-wife Jade Paul posted allegations on social media, none relating to unlawful conduct. The Labour leader denies them and says he hasn't spoken to Paul, who is overseas. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's clear Paul felt like she needed to speak out as Hipkins makes more campaign promises ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Reserve Bank has increased interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, up to 4.1 percent. This is the second month the RBA has lifted rates, with the bank hiking up to 3.85 percent in February. Australian correspondet Murray Olds says the vote to increase rates was divided, but there's concerns about inflation brought on by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is copping heat today for cancelling the EV subsidy a couple of years ago. Critics now say it looks like a mistake, because oil prices are rising and, as a result, petrol prices are rising too. They argue that, of course, we’d all be better off in electric vehicles - which we supposedly would have been if the Government hadn’t cancelled the subsidy at the end of 2023. Now let me tell you why it was not a mistake to cancel it, why what’s happening right now actually proves that, and why the lovies saying this are wrong. What’s important in this argument is being specific about who would have owned those electric vehicles if the Tesla subsidy had continued. It wouldn’t have been workers living all the way out in Pōkeno, driving into the city, it wouldn’t have been people out in Silverstream commuting into Wellington, it wouldn’t have been solo mums trying to make ends meet - they can’t afford new EVs. It would have been well-heeled people living in central-city leafy suburbs, getting eight grand knocked off the price of their nice new cars. Those are not the people who need help when fuel prices shoot up. So if we were going to do something like this - if we were going to repeat some form of Government help - wouldn’t it be far more useful to take the $620 million that helped nice people into their nice cars and instead redirect it toward people who are poorer? The proof that we didn’t need that subsidy up to this point is in what’s happening right now. I told you earlier: BYD sold 80 cars in New Zealand on Saturday alone. They sold 800 cars in Australia on the same day. That is happening in New Zealand without the subsidy. Which tells you this - when rich people decide they want themselves a nice EV, they will go and buy it without Government help. They don’t need it. They just have to want EVs - and they didn’t want them before because it didn’t stack up until fuel prices went up. Now look, I do think there’s a place for Government help in this crisis if it gets worse. But it’s not to help rich people buy new cars. It’s for poorer people - the people who will actually be stung by rising petrol prices if they keep going up. So no, it was not a mistake to cut the subsidy. Eighty BYDs sold in New Zealand on Saturday is your proof. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing concerns. US President Donald Trump has reportedly called for reinforcements to keep an eye on the waterway after the Middle East conflict led to a spike in oil prices.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Starmer isn't offering to help police the area, but Donald Trump has spoken to other world leaders about the matter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 16 March, 2026, we talk to the Retail NZ chief executive about an increase in card spending - will it last? The boss of Freightways says people are getting a bit 'hysterical' about petrol price rises. We talk to an entertainment reporter in the US about this year's big Oscar winners. And on The Huddle, Josie Pagani and Phil O'Reilly on whether Nicola Willis' 1pm press conference brought back any unfortunate memories.  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.

The Government is considering its options if petrol prices keep rising, but the head of Freightways is warning people not to panic. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its third week, but the Finance Minister has ruled out measures like reducing the fuel excise. Freightways CEO Mark Troughear says there's plenty of fuel in the country and more on the way - and there's plenty of supply to keep things going.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its third week and there's concerns about what it could do to the markets. Iran's still restricting movement through the shipping strategic choke-point as part of its retaliation for the relentless bombing by the US and Israel. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Protesters gathered outside Wellington's High Court today, as a lawyers' group challenges Government climate moves. Do we think this is an over-reaction? As the crisis in the Middle East continues and concerns about fuel prices mount, Nicola Willis held a 1pm press conference to talk about the Government's plans. What did we make of this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protesters gathered outside Wellington's High Court today, as a lawyers' group challenges the Government's climate moves.  Lawyers for Climate Action alleges the Government's emissions reduction plan doesn't add up - and wants the Court to order it back to the drawing board.  Executive director Jessica Palairet says this is the first case of its kind in New Zealand.  "These kinds of challenges have actually happened all around the world. So in the UK, the Government was challenged two times on its plan and had to go back two times and do a better job."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says there's no bail-out on the cards for Air Zealand at this stage - as the conflict in the Middle East causes a surge in jet fuel prices. The national carrier has already raised fares, and cancelled about 1100 upcoming flights. Nicola Willis says she thinks there will be some shifts in airline patterns around the world - which will mean jet fuel remains available. "And I think Air New Zealand has every opportunity to compete for customers, we now look like a very safe country compared to a lot of other destinations where people might have wanted to have a tourist experience three weeks ago." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.