Larry Williams Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 27 March, 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis' "keep calm" message as she sets out what it'll take to start fuel rationing. New Zealand First's plan to put millions of dollars into a Christchurch Cathedral rebuild. Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins on why the film's still a big drawcard for tourists. And on The Sports Huddle, D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jim Kayes debate the IOC's u-turn on transgender women. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse Group has reported a first half net profit after tax of nearly $16 million. CEO Mark Stirton told Heather du Plessis-Allan he is 'pleased' with the result But, like most of the world, concerns over Iran and fuel costs plague future outlooks.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been 25 years since the release of the first Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring.  Actor Bruce Hopkins, who played Gamling in the series, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about the ongoing popularity and tourism pull in New Zealand.  Hopkins said the support for the franchise is 'astounding'.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now look it may not altogether surprise you today to hear that the International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women from competing in female events because this was so obviously going to happen once Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the IOC. She was clearly going to do it, given that she campaigned on doing exactly this. But, you may be surprised to realise what an enormous U-turn this actually is. I had to go back and have a look to actually believe it. Five years ago, the IOC publicly praised Laurel Hubbard for having “courage and tenacity” as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. They said everyone agrees that trans women are women. So, to go from that position to now banning Laurel Hubbard from competing in a female category again, in the space of five short years, is actually—when you think about it—quite an extraordinary turnaround. Now obviously what’s happened is public opinion has shifted. Five years ago was before the Cass Report was delivered in the UK on the

US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat the latest news out of the USA.  As the war with Iran continues questions over the likelihood of a peace deal remain, meanwhile, in California gas prices are quickly coming up to $6, $10 NZD, per gallon.  And, controversy over Southwest Airline's 'fat tax' booms online. "They are singling out people that are overweight and they are forcing them to buy another seat," Mitchinson said.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones announced the four-stage fuel plan in response to fuel supply concerns stemming from the war in Iran. Phase one of the plan focuses is on monitoring global developments, phase two would involve active co-ordination between the Government and industry, including supporting efforts to reduce demand, phase three and four, at this stage, would include prioritising fuel for emergencies, freight and food supply chains, and key industries. Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan that phase three and four would negatively impact the New Zealand economy.  "It wouldn't be great for anyone, for jobs or livelihoods, which is why we're working so hard now to try and prevent that ever being possible," she said.  "But, we also recognise these are events outside our control." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In three days Spark is set to switch off their 3G network for good.  Spark Chief Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer, Leela Ashford, told Heather du Plessis-Allan only about 0.2% of Spark's total data traffic still uses 3G.  "There's still people on there, and that's why we are encouraging them, to move off to use this weekend, get into a store and get onto a 4G capable device," Ashford said. LISTEN HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Keir Starmer is in Finland for a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force alliance. The focus of the talks will be Russian aggression in Ukraine, but Starmer says that there's 'a war on two fronts'. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacked the defence solutions being discussed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The private credit sector has given investors cause for concern. Questions have been raised about the sector's future amid a flood of redemption requests among some high-profile private credit funds. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year’s Federated Farmers High Country Field Day is set to take place on 27 March at Glenaray Station. The event will give  Ministers, MPs, officials and sector leaders insight into the work carried out by high-country farmers. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The police have recently revealed the the Tom Phillips documentary will be a Netflix project. Are we surprised they allowed this to happen? Do we think this is a good idea? Are we worried about privacy? Labour has indicated they won't rule out the Government's proposed surcharge ban after ACT confirmed they wouldn't back it. Do we see this moving forward after all?  A South African family living in New Zealand - including their son with Down syndrome - is set to be deported. Do we think this is unfair? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 March, 2026, we look at Labour's plan for who should pay the surcharge on credit cards. A big win for self-employed midwives in their court battle against the Health Ministry. We ask a psychologist if you should share your location with your partner. And on The Huddle, David Farrar and Gareth Hughes debate the danger of the Tom Phillips story going on Netflix. 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.

My overriding reaction to news that a Tom Phillips documentary is being made for Netflix is surprise. I’m surprised that the police are still allowing this to happen - especially now that it’s confirmed the documentary will appear on a platform as globally dominant as Netflix. Just think about how many people around the world will watch this. Imagine if the series takes off and becomes popular in the same way some true crime stories on Netflix do - think The Tinder Swindler. What happened after you watched that? Or after The Menendez Brothers documentary, or docudramas like Apple Cider Vinegar? You started Googling, didn’t you? I know I did. What do we think people around the world are going to find when they start googling the Marokopa kids? There is a real chance they could come across suppressed information. And given how difficult it is to enforce suppression laws overseas, what do we think some of those global websites are going to do? There has to be a risk that some publishers abroad will release that

A Los Angeles ​jury recently found Meta and Google guilty of designing harmful social media platforms that encourage addictive behaviour in users. The jury found Meta liable for $4.2 million in damages and Google for $1.8 million, and it's expected this case will inspire similar legal cases.  Senior public health researcher at UOA, Dr Samantha Marsh, says this is a historic moment for social media.  "This is the first time that they've actually been taken to court, they've been found liable for their product. Up until now, it's just been about what people post on their platforms and they can't be held responsible for that. But this kind of changes everything."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been revealed the documentary on the disappearance of Tom Phillips will screen on Netflix. He and his children were missing for four years when the saga ended with a shootout in September - killing the fugitive.  Dame Julie Christie is creating a documentary on the case with the help of the police, and has been granted exclusive access.   NZME editor-at-large Shayne Currie says the final product could just be a piece of police PR.  "There are these clauses within there that do allow police (A) to have viewing and vetting rights and (B) by the sounds of it, to have the ultimate call on whether it even screens certain contact." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between phones, smartwatches and new apps, it's fairly easy for people to stay in contact and keep an eye on where they are. Some couples and families use location sharing to enforce trust and keep each other safe, but concerns have been raised as to when it crosses the line. Psychologist Sara Chatwin says it's important to discuss parameters and boundaries when it comes to location sharing.  "There are many reasons why location sharing can be a really good thing...I just think at the extreme end of the continuum, you have people that perhaps, by location sharing, feel like they're being coerced by their partner."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Court's ruled the Crown breached its promise to ensure self-employed midwives are paid fairly and reasonably.  After 18 months of waiting, the decision's been published. Justice Cheryl Gwyn also says the Crown unlawfully discriminated against the midwives on the basis of sex - and breached their human rights. NZ College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy says workers weren't being paid based on reasonable comparators. "And the fact that they're self-employed and had to carry the costs of that and providing a 24/7 service, 365 days a year." The Government says it will appeal the decision. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour may still hand a lifeline to the Government's much-touted surcharge ban.  The policy was announced with much fanfare last year - with Minister Scott Simpson promising it would be in force by May.  But he now says the bill's on pause, after David Seymour confirmed ACT won't back it.  National's now hoping for Labour's support for it to pass, with the Opposition keen to see amendments made so retailers don’t bear the costs of the payments themselves.  Retail NZ's Carolyn Young says she think's it's unlikely the banks can be forced to absorb them.  "If they can get the banks to absorb the fees, that would be a great outcome." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are heading to the election, with a policy to reverse the Government's reintroduction of interest deductibility. It also wants to scrap no-cause evictions, and introduce a new register of landlords and property managers. The Greens say they want to cap rent-hikes at two-percent per year and introduce a new rental warrant of fitness. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has raised concerns over the impacts of this plan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, the fuel crisis is getting worse, with hundreds of petrol stations running dry. Stations in NSW and Victoria have reported significant shortages, with metropolitan areas being hit the hardest. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says demand for fuel has been spiking - which has been driven up by panic-buyers looking to get ahead. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.