

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
Newstalk ZB
With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2026 • 6min
Gareth Edgecombe: T&G Global Chief Executive discusses strong financial result from premium apple demand
Premium apple demand is at the core of a strong financial result for T&G Global. Its revenue has increased by 14% to $1.6 billion and its net profit after tax is $16 million, up from a loss of $9.9m. Global Chief Executive Gareth Edgecombe told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the Chinese and US markets in particular have been buying more of the premium Jazz, Jolie and Envy apples. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 3min
Rob Heyes: Infometrics principal consultant says benefit sanctions aren't working
An economist says benefit sanctions aren't working. The traffic light system was introduced last year and beneficiaries who failed obligations like taking part in Work and Income assessments. Infometrics principal consultant Rob Heyes says the number of beneficiaries has continued to rise after they were introduced. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it's goal of getting people into work hasn't come to fruition, and says the job market has been tough with vacancies drying-up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 4min
Sir Richard Taylor: Weta Workshops Co-Founder celebrates winning the Visionary Award
No individual has had more of an impact on modern Hollywood visual effects than Sir Richard Taylor. The Co-Founder and Chief Creative force behind Weta Workshop has now received well deserved recognition from his peers, as he has won the Visionary award from the Visual Effects Society in LA. Sir Taylor told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wasn't expecting to win the award. "I was a little overwhelmed when I heard that I was going to collect this. I actually thought maybe they'd made a mistake, but it turned out they hadn't." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 3min
Joe Flint: Wall Street Journal reporter says workers worried about job cuts after Paramount wins bidding war
Netflix has backed away from its proposal to buy Warner Bros Discovery, clearing the way for Paramount Skydance to win the months-long bidding war. Warner Bros, which put itself up for sale last year, says Paramount's latest bid was superior to Netflix's, which in turn refused to raise its offer. The massive media company owns Harry Potter, DC Comics and CNN. Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint told Heather du Plessis Allan that there are now concerns about major job cuts in the impending merger. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 3min
Chris Abercrombie: PPTA President comments on Ministry of Educations' prediction that teacher numbers will stabilise by 2028
Students may be short changed by a lack of secondary school teachers. The latest Ministry of Education figures show a predicted shortfall of just over seven hundred high school teachers this year. Post Primary Teachers Association President Chris Abercrombie says the Ministry of Education's prediction that the gap will be filled by 2028 is overly optimistic. He says we need to take the politics out of teaching and get down to a solution with a long term plan for staffing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 6min
Barry Soper: Senior Political Correspondent discusses Seymour and Peters' latest disagreement
There is disagreement between the ACT and NZ First leader over the Government's stake in Air New Zealand. ACT Leader David Seymour proposed selling the Government's stake, which Winston Peters called 'economic lunacy'. Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'David Seymour and Winston Peters have never seen eye to eye at all and it's remarkable really that both have been part of the same cabinet for two years.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 2026 • 6min
James Meager: Associate Transport Minister discusses potential impact of Air New Zealand's financial loss on regional routes
The Government wants to see regional routes kept, despite Air New Zealand's poor financial showing. Some regional flights could be axed or scaled back in response to the company's $40million half-year loss. Act leader David Seymour has called for the Government to sell its majority shareholding in the airline, which New Zealand First's Winston Peters calls economic lunacy. Associate Transport Minister James Meager told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Air New Zealand should consider efficiencies.He says there are some commercial decisions they could make, and hopes scrapping regional connectivity is not one of them LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 26, 2026 • 4min
Enda Brady: UK correspondent on the UK being warned to prepare for war with Russia
One key member of the UK's Labour party is warning that the nation only has three years to prepare for war. Al Carns gave an interview to the Times today and said that a major conflict was coming, and indicated Russia would be a likely source. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 39min
Full Show Podcast: 26 February 2026
On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 February, 2026, we talk to Air New Zealand's boss about its net loss of $40 million and ask if David Seymour's right when he says: "Go woke, go broke." How much the Government's making from clamping cars when people fail to pay fines. We look at why men are far more likely to own the home they live in than women. And on The Huddle, Clare de Lore and Ali Jones discuss why many people are happy to see Jacinda Ardern living in Australia. 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.

Feb 26, 2026 • 5min
Wayne Langford: Federated Farmers President on the organisation's meeting with Labour
Labour politicians dusted off their gumboots and went down to the farm for their annual meeting with Federated Farmers today. Federated Farmers started the get-together three years ago to better the relationship with the party. President Wayne Langford said some 'solid' discussions took place earlier, but no new policies were unveiled. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


