Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's growing concerns about the economic impacts of the war in Iran. Crude oil prices have topped $100 US dollars a barrel for the first time since 2022 - and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents over the weekend. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly says these attacks are directly impacting key fuel sources, which has got economists worried about future prices. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing debate about the future of asteroid mining, as technology keeps making new advancements. These new developments have prompted concerns about how this process can be regulated, as it looks more likely asteroid mining will take off by the end of the decade. Waikato University Senior Lecturer in Law Anna-Marie Brennan says there's plenty to be mined from asteroids - and it will likely reduce the environmental impacts on Earth. "But at the same time, a lot of researchers, a lot of lawyers think we do need a monitoring mechanism for this activity." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  There's bee plenty of speculation over the weekend about Luxon's political future, but after today's round of interviews, it's unlikely he's going anywhere just yet. Do we think National will roll him eventually?  The Government will be keeping an eye on fuel prices as the conflict in the Middle East continues. There's growing calls for the Government to cut the fuel tax - do we see them going through with this?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 9 March, 2026, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones warns we may have to ration fuel if the Iran war drags on. More people are learning Te Reo Maori - but there's an issue with getting enough teachers. A Waikato University lecturer tells us we're close to mining asteroids - and New Zealand's playing a big part. And on The Huddle, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani debate whether the Prime Minister really is facing a leadership threat after poor polling. 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.

Look, I know we’re all going to have different points at which we think the media reaction to a news story gets silly but for me, that point was this morning.  Members of the media chasing the Prime Minister through Wellington Airport, asking whether he was considering resigning and whether he had the full support of his caucus seemed a little bit silly to me. Silly because it’s not as if he’s gone to ground for the past four days, is it? He was on morning media today - two radio interviews and at least one TV appearance - and he’s also fronted a post-Cabinet news conference. So it’s not as though the media are starved of opportunities to talk to the Prime Minister without chasing him through a crowded terminal. All it does is create the impression of drama where no real drama exists. There is no coup. All of his ministers are backing him publicly. Privately, sure, maybe a little less so - but publicly, they are. Luxon remains the leader until he is talked out of being the leader and there’s no sign that’s happening. In short, nothing is happening in the short term. Now, if I try to understand why the media wanted to chase him through the airport, perhaps it’s because they sense things have shifted - and that part is true. Since the poll on Friday morning that put National at 28 percent, two things have changed. First, ministers who previously gave complete backing to Luxon are now doing so privately with a caveat: “Yeah, I support him… but.” But he’s bad at taking advice, but he made a bad call with XYZ. Whatever the specifics, the point is the same: they’ve dropped their full confidence. That tells me something is going on in their heads. Second, he has now entered what I’d describe as publicly “dead man walking” territory. Every bad poll from here, every major mistake - and there will be some - will reignite talk about his leadership. That is a slow bleed for any leader. It ends one of two ways - a spanking on election day, or the leader eventually calling it quits. I think he’s now in that zone. I don’t think the coalition loses the election at this rate, but I do think National comes back as a mini version of itself - and that’s not great for them. Maybe that electoral prognosis is what has the media so excited that they’re chasing him through the airport. But that’s a medium-term issue. Today? I think the brief excitement of the weekend is over and nothing is going to happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump. Crude oil prices have topped $100 US dollars a barrel for the first time in three years - and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government's working with key industries to keep an eye on prices, in case there's a global shock. "We can assure New Zealanders that there's enough fuel for at least 60 days, and then beyond that - of course, fuel companies will be responsible for having their own orders in." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for the Government to pay rates on Crown land. Wellington mayor Andrew Little has announced he'll lobby for changes to the Local Government Act to repeal the measure as part of his council’s triennium plan. Currently, most property owned by central Government, such as schools and hospitals, is exempt from paying rates. Little says local councils provide a lot of infrastructure to Crown-owned buildings - and more revenue is needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief not enough children are learning Te Reo to become a bilingual nation. New data shows more than 28,000 students were taught the curriculum through Māori more than half the time last year, 71 percent up on 2000. Māori language advocate Stacey Morrison says 250,000 kids still aren't taught anything in Te Reo - so there's work to do. "I do think it's an 'everybody' thing, not just the teachers who are already there and fluent. One thing is valuing bilingualism, because there's a lot of benefits, and then we can go - okay, so how are we going to do that?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZX has fallen 3.1 percent as the US and Israeli war on Iran dents people's investment portfolios.  Closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz has ignited supply concerns over crude oil - now costing more than $100 US dollars a barrel.  Shares in Auckland Airport and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare have tumbled.   Generate investment specialist Greg Smith says the market's accounting for what might happen, and it could turn. He explained it's also affected by Iran appointing a new leader and Donald Trump refusing to back down - which has pushed out the time frame for resolving everything. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's working to stay ahead of the effects of the war in Iran. Crude oil prices have topped $100 USD a barrel for the first time since 2022, and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents over the weekend. An economic security Ministerial Oversight Group is being set up - to focus on fuel and supply chains. Associate Energy Minister and Resources Minister Shane Jones says it'll need high-quality, regular information. "In respect of logistics, supply lines and shipping arrangements, this needs to be stood up ASAP." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.