

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

Jan 26, 2026 • 5min
Azaria Howell: Newstalk ZB reporter on Parliament returning for the 2026 year tomorrow
Parliament is set to return from tomorrow for a single-week sitting block, but the big day's already been overshadowed. Last week's extreme weather has made a significant impact, with Prime Minister Chris Luxon skipping Rātana to visit the impacted areas. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says it's likely Parliament will pay tribute to those lost to the extreme weather to start the year off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 2026 • 6min
Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on the protests erupting over Australia Day
It's Australia Day today, and the holiday's sparked protests, division and debate about the meaning of the day. Thousands of people took to the streets for the Invasion Day march protesting the holiday, only to clash with protestors out for the March for Australia rally. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says people have raised concerns about the polarising nature of the holiday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 2026 • 4min
Jason Pine: Sportstalk host on the search for a new All Blacks coach
New Zealand Rugby is determined to nail an expedited process, as they open for applications for All Blacks head coach. The criteria for Scott Robertson's replacement states the new person needs experience internationally and must be a New Zealander. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 2026 • 6min
Mike Cosman: Institute of Safety Management spokesperson on the investigation into the Mount Maunganui landslide
Concerns about how many investigations will be held into Mount Maunganui's deadly landslide, with six people still buried and careful recovery work continuing. WorkSafe will look into organisations with a duty of care at the holiday park, the Council's reviewing events beforehand, and Fire and Emergency could launch a probe. The Institute of Safety Management's Mike Cosman says police will investigate on behalf of the Coroner, and could do so in their own right too. He says others may also be looking deeper. "One of my concerns here is that when you've got multiple simultaneous investigations going on - is witnesses, whanau, first responders having to retell their stories multiple times to multiple different agencies. It can be incredibly traumatic." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 1h 40min
Full Show Podcast: 23 January 2026
Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 23 January. 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.

Jan 23, 2026 • 3min
Perspective with Ryan Bridge: There's a time and a place to protest
Now, have a listen to this. This happened in Thames this morning as the Prime Minister arrived to go and check on the damage to the properties and check out the roads and to meet with the victims' families. It's a disgrace what you're doing with your climate positive, Prime Minister. It's an absolute disgrace and we're suffering now. You're listening to a bunch of protesters heckling the Prime Minister. They're yelling shame as he gets into his car. And yesterday, Chris Hipkins mentioned climate change in his message to victims' families. Now, everybody in this country knows how political climate change has become. Well, not, no, that's wrong. Not so much climate change, but how we respond to it. So to wave banners and bring into the debate about climate change, absolutely they're right. The protesters, they have the right to do that. It's also the right of the Leader of the Opposition to mention it in his address as well. But the question is whether it's in good taste. And I reckon it's a bit off for a couple of reasons. One, we still have teenagers trapped under a landslide at the Mount. Their families, desperate, emotional as you can well imagine, banners shouting anger through the news at a time like this, I would have thought was a bit much. Number 2, the idea that by closing a few farms and getting rid of some cows in New Zealand, you will somehow stop the rain from falling and the landslides from slipping is just wrong. All the scientists agree it would take unified global action, most importantly, from the big four players to move the dial even an inch. And right now, as everybody well knows, those players, especially the US, doing the opposite. Our dear friends across the Tasman have just struck a deal to extend the life of their biggest power plant. That plant, by the way, runs on coal. As I say, I back everyone's right to protest and say what they like. There is nothing illegal or even really nasty about it. I just think it's probably a bit in poor taste so soon after such a personal tragedy, and one that people are feeling so deeply. You've also got to wonder who's benefiting from all this. Are the protesters going to be flooded with supporters after an outburst like that while the families are still waiting to hear news of their loved ones stuck under a landslide? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 6min
Karen Stevens: Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman gives advice on weather-related insurance claims
A large insurance bill is looming from the latest weather-related disasters. The landslide at Mount Maunganui combined with flood damage in Northland, Coromandel and Gisborne means that the claims are set to roll in. Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens told Ryan Bridge that people affected can expect delays given the high number of claims being made. "I think everybody understands that with a significant weather event, there are going to be more delays than if it's just business as usual." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 4min
Mark Wolfenden: Woolworths Director of E-Commerce discusses new $3.50 charge for click and collect service
Shoppers may be hit with a new unexpected fee if they are using Woolworth's click and collect service. Currently, Click and Collect is free at Woolworths as long as you're buying at least $50 worth of groceries, but the chain is going to change the rules so that all Click and collectors pay $3.50. Woolworths Director of E-Commerce Mark Wolfenden told Ryan Bridge that the price was put in place to simplify the fee on all orders, and to help the company invest in it's services. "It's about making it more sustainable and making sure that we can keep investing in amazing technology and services which honestly Kiwis are demanding it ever more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 4min
Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist comments on higher-than-expected inflation rates
An expectation the official cash rate will be held steady as inflation is higher than expected. Inflation's clocked in at 3.1 percent which means its snuck outside of the Reserve Bank's target band. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says there's now quite wide agreement that the OCR will be held at 2.25 to prevent further inflation. She told Ryan Bridge that more extreme measures could be needed. Zollner says it's more likely than not that the Official Cash Rate will be hiked sometime this year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 4min
Michael Morrah: NZ Herald Senior Journalist provides latest updates on Mount Maunganui landslide
Police says authorities will be working through the night and tomorrow - to find people trapped after a slip slammed into Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park. Six people are unaccounted for, including two teenagers, after it tore through tents, cars, caravans, a toilet block and the hot pools around 9.30am yesterday. NZ Herald Senior Journalist Michael Morrah told Ryan Bridge that there are 6 people confirmed to be trapped under the landslide, with another 3 people still yet to be accounted for. He said that the police are currently going through the list of all the people who may have checked into the campground, and are making sure that they have left the campsite and are accounted for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


