Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A construction expert says customers could soon face price hikes of 25%.

Stats NZ data shows petrol prices rose almost 19% last month, while diesel prices were up almost 43%.

AUT Professor John Tookey says the industry heavily relies on oil for producing and transporting materials.

He says the destruction of oil wells and processing facilities in the Middle East could take years or decades to rebuild. 

Tookey says, if it conti...

In my opinion, National MPs need to bite the bullet and ask Chris Luxon to step aside.

I don’t enjoy saying this because personally I like Chris Luxon and have a fair amount of respect for him. But I think the chances are now very high that this is going to happen before the election. He is going to lose the leadership and perhaps the only real choice National MPs now have is how messy they allow this to become.

I’ll explain why I ...

Changes to the Local Government Act could be on the way after controversy at the Far North District Council. 

Councillor Diane Smolders claims a committee made-up of six councillors and 10 unelected Iwi and hapu representatives is co-governance on steroids. 

Local Government Minister Simon Watts says he's looking at changes to give to cabinet. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he'll have a proposal soon. 

W...

Nicola Willis has made her way to the US.

She joins a long list of finance ministers calling for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, and met with Trump's officials for an update on the situation in Iran. 

She told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the Whitehouse was, 'careful to caveat that there were still a number of unknowns because they're not the only actor in the conflict.' when asked about the situation in Iran. 

LISTEN AB...

'Alpine Divorce' is a new phenomenon that is common enough to exist. 

Couples going on hikes or tramps reach exhaustion at different stages, leading to one person being left behind. An exhaustion which now seems to have extended to relationships. 

Adrift NZ Owner and Tongariro Crossing Guide told Heather du Plessis-Allan that being under physical stress is likely to heighten tensions in strained relationships. 

'When...

A new farming advocacy group is pushing for the government only to import meat that matches New Zealand's farming standards. 

'Fair for Farmers' says that overseas pig meat undermines animal welfare standards, and kiwi farmer's ability to compete. 

Animal Policy International Co-Executive Director Rainer Kravets told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'around 60% of pork in our market comes from overseas and most of it is pro...

Uptake is stalling for GP's wanting to diagnose ADHD. 

Two months after the Government allowed GP's to assess and prescribe medication, only 180 GP's have used the new power so far. 

Other doctors blame workforce shortages and inadequate funding for the stall in uptakes. 

Royal NZ College of GP's President Luke Bradford told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'Patients can't afford to see it. Or the doctors can't afford ...

Kiwi company Allbirds has announced a new direction and it's drawn questions from experts.

After years of losses, the former sustainable shoe company is transitioning to AI after selling all its assets this month.

It's revised its moniker to NewBirds AI - seeing share values surging up to 700 percent.

NZ Herald senior business writer Chris Keall says the tech and business-based press has raised concerns about what this could do for...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 16 April, 2026, our $86 billion Super Fund is found guilty of failing to properly address human rights. We talk to the lawyer for the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

We have a tough conversation with US philosopher Peter Boghossian, who's here on a free speech tour.

Former cricketer Ben Harris tells us how he came up with the idea of a bowls version of T20...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

As the fuel crisis continues, more people are opting to take the bus instead of drive or fly. Do we see this becoming a permanent shift, or will things go back to normal when the oil crisis ends?

What do we make of the Government's hand...

Having tough conversations is a difficult art, but one expert's devised a solution.

American philosopher Peter Boghossian has been quietly touring New Zealand schools and universities teaching young people how to have healthy debate.

He says it's important to consider all perspectives and figure out what people believe before we leap to conflict.

"The most important thing is that you have to listen, you have to repeat back to the p...

We can be a bunch of moaners in this country, can’t we?

Now, from my point of view, that announcement yesterday - which we talked about on the show - that pharmacists may soon be able to hand out a range of publicly funded medicines without patients having to go to a GP first, is a no-brainer.

It’s wonderful because we’re talking about low-level medications: Pamol, maybe some eye drops, for fairly common and uncomplicated illnesses...

A former cricketer has launched a new fast-paced lawn bowls format designed to give the sport a new lease on life.

'Five in 25' is a shortened version of the game that hopes to attract new players to give the sport a go.

Ben Harris is the man behind the game and he says there's an event set to take place tomorrow designed to appeal to prospective players.

"It's an experimental tournament tomorrow, there'll be some learnings fr...

Airlines are now treating the fuel crisis as a long term issue.

The conflict in Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has forced airfare rises and route cuts.

Board of Airline Representatives NZ Executive Director, Cath O'Brien, says airlines have to look well ahead.

"At the moment, we're planning for the season that runs October to March. As we plan ahead, we have to plan networks on a totally changed basis of cost. And I t...

The Guardians of the Super Fund are considering their response to a High Court ruling parts of its sustainable investment policy were unreasonable and unlawful.

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa sought a judicial review over the fund's failure to divest investment in Israeli companies complicit in illegally occupying Palestine. 

Their lawyer, Frances Joychild KC says the court has asked the Superfund to re-write its po...

National says Labour's sending mixed messages on tax. 

Yesterday, lobby group Tax Justice Aotearoa called for a comprehensive capital gains tax and wealth taxes.

Labour's revenue spokesperson Deborah Russell says the group has 'really good suggestions', and refuses to say whether Labour's current capital gains tax policy goes far enough. 

Meanwhile, leader Chris Hipkins says the party won't be taking any new tax policy to...