Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

So we've got an election date, and it's the date pundits have been picking since late last year - November 7th. This election is National's to lose. The only question really is how much influence ACT and or New Zealand First will have in any future Government. Don't get me wrong - it'll be a close race. Here's some easy picks - National will get more votes than Labour, New Zealand First will outperform ACT, New Zealand First will steal from Labour and nip at their heels, Te Pati Māori's reputation is already in the bin so the Māori seats are anyone's guess at this point. And Winston Peters, as always, will decide who actually wins the election. He's ruled out working with Chippy but not Labour. Here's the crucial point. Winston Peters cannot, politically, enter a deal propped up by or supported by the Greens or Te Pati Māori. In pretty much every poll this term, Labour has needed both of them to get close to the magic 61 seats. Now, you could argue that National might stumble and Labour could surge. But the chances of this happening - I would put at around 20-30 percent. So very unlikely. The economic recovery's underway. Summer will be round the corner come November. But most importantly, people won't switch horses mid-stream when that recovery has been so hard fought. The memory, particularly in Auckland, is too short for voters to forget about Labour's Covid mess and unbridled spending on outrageous and expensive things. Chris Hipkins today also announced a date - his wedding. He says it'll be held in 2027. That means Toni is likely going to marry an unemployed bloke from the Hutt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 21 January, 2026, Christopher Luxon's announced the election date - we look at who's in poll position. A witness to a shop worker's stabbing in Auckland tells us how he confronted the attacker. Martin Snedden on the difficulties of the job with our three top sports - rugby, netball and cricket - without leaders. Plus, on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Phil O'Reilly debate the election and the overwhelming support for a social media ban among Kiwis. 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.

Three of New Zealand's biggest sporting bodies have seen their leaders depart, and it's prompted concerns about what this could mean for the sector. NZ Rugby head Mark Robinson is set to depart the role, Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie resigned at the end of last year and NZ Cricket CEO Scott Weenink recently resigned following a scandal. Former NZ Cricket CEO Martin Snedden says the leadership role's always come with challenges, but social media backlash makes scandals more noticeable. "These are very difficult jobs. Sport is volatile, stakeholders' expectations, sometimes broad expectations, are disproportionate to what the resources are of an organisation - and burnout is a huge issue." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT leader David Seymour says voters need to see the result of coalition policies before heading to voting booths. The Prime Minister's announced the election will be held on November 7 - a later date than the past two, which were held in October.  Seymour says the Government's done a lot of work on the economy, and a later election will give voters time to see that.  "And I think it's only fair that people get to judge the Government on the benefits of its policies delivered before they choose." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's doubts police are getting bang for their buck on recruitment spending. The Post reports police spent just over $1 million to market recruitment - between December 2023 and the following November. That surged to $2.76 million in the year after Richard Chambers took over as Police Commissioner. Police Association President Steve Watt says all organisations have to spend to make themselves attractive. "But when we're still struggling to get the 500 officers target, you'd have to wonder if that was money well spent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new challenger's taking on Auckland in the race for the most expensive properties.  Trade Me data shows the Bay of Plenty's average asking price has dethroned Auckland's for the first time in 10 years.  It's sitting on $963,000 - $11,000 above Auckland.  But Opes Partners economist Ed McKnight says that doesn't translate to higher sale values.  "The median sale price of a house in Auckland is still about $150,000 more than over in the Bay of Plenty." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil Defence in Tolaga Bay East Coast says low-lying households near Hikuwai River should evacuate now. Surface flooding has stranded several East Coast communities - with no easing yet of the tropical storm battering the North Island.  Tairawhiti has now joined Whangārei, Hauraki, Thames-Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty in declaring States of Emergency. Red rain warnings for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and parts of Gisborne will start expiring between 11pm and 11am tomorrow. Hauraki District Council says some homes in Whiritoa have been evacuated, and the Surf Club has been set up as a Civil Defence site.  In Thames Coromandel, Mayor Peter Revell says Whitianga, Cooks Beach and Pauanui are cut off, with near record rain already last night.  "There's going to be significant volumes of rain in the next four or five hours, so that will certainly load up the rivers and threaten slips on roads and what have you." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's not announcing any changes to the team, as parties tee-up political campaigns. The Prime Minister's confirmed a November 7 date for this year's general election - speaking from National's annual caucus retreat in Christchurch. Chris Luxon says any members retiring will announce it themself, and he doesn't feel compelled to reshuffle for the sake of it. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Luxon will be hoping for the economic recovery to be more noticeable by the time the voting booths open up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump celebrated the first anniversary of his second term with a near two-hour press conference, boasting about economic achievements and holding up photos of detained immigrants.  The US President said he was confident God was on his side - and that he thinks God would be proud of the work he's done so far. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump is looking forward to arriving in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, where he's expected to defend his ambition to seize Greenland.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps coach Rob Walter has revealed he's relatively set on playing XI options for next month's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The team begin their build-up five-match T20 series against India in Nagpur overnight. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what fans can expect ahead of the series. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.