Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 8 August 2025, the Israeli security cabinet has approved plans to take full control of Gaza. Israeli journalist Haggai Matar tells Heather this specifically means the IDF wants to take control of Gaza City but it's unclear where civilians are supposed to go. Oranga Tamariki is celebrating the end of the bootcamps pilot as a success. OT's Iain Chapman tells Heather for some kids the process has been totally life changing. Labour's Willow-Jean Prime is under fire for declining information or briefings on the Government's big changes to education - was she just being lazy? Otago University Professor Angela Ballantyne tells Heather how GPs are embracing AI - and what the pitfalls are that patients should be aware of. Plus, the Sports Huddle gets fired up on the issue of Richie Mo'unga and whether it's time to ditch NZ Rugby's eligibility rules. 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.

The UK Government has called the group Palestine Action ‘terrorists’ after members associated with the group were found on an RAF base.  Palestine Action have organised a large protest in central London this weekend, but the Metropolitan Police are warning that anyone showing support for the group will be arrested.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey says that the predicted number of attendees at this protest will stretch police resources to their limit.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Treasury report has pointed out that government spending is still near its peak during the pandemic.  This comes after finance minister Nicola Willis said her government won’t repeat the previous government’s mistakes.  Former finance minister Ruth Richardson told Heather duPlessis-Allan that ‘[Nicola Willis] needs to face up to what the Treasury is telling her.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has called India a country with a ‘dead economy.’  Despite India being one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world, Trump lumped India in with Russia when criticising their economies.  Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis says that Donald Trump’s comments could affect the two countries’ trade.   He told Heather duPlessis-Allan that ‘It’s rather upended the relationship’   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, NewstalkZB Sports reporter Nathan Limm and Oceania Football Confederation media manager Matt Brown join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.  Should NZ keep letting top rugby players run away overseas? Or is it making it harder to track who will come home to play for the All Blacks. Will letting them go overseas devalue Super Rugby here?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice senior leader's keen to see youth offender boot camps continue beyond the pilot.  The 12-month military-style camp trial with 10 of New Zealand's most serious young offenders has wrapped.  Eight completed the programme, seven re-offended requiring them to return to camp, and one passed away in a road accident.  Oranga Tamariki Deputy CEO Ian Chapman says this was the last stop shop before a life in corrections.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel's expanding its military occupation of Gaza - forcing more than a million Palestinians out of Gaza City.  Israel's security cabinet's approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan - in a nine hour meeting today. It involves moving Palestinians out of the main population centres - and into compounds in southern Gaza.  Israeli journalist Haggai Matar told Heather du-Plessis Allan that Israel already controls over 85 percent of Gaza - and forbids Palestinians from going into it.   He says it's basically pushing Palestinians into smaller areas of land - mostly areas that have been uninhabited and are very difficult to sustain life on.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US President has said he would be happy to have a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  The focus of this meeting will likely be around peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.  US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley told Heather duPlessis-Allan that Donald Trump wants to be the middleman to this peace deal.   ‘He would want to make it look like he is the peacemaker.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So I don't know what's worse, the fact that Willow Jean Prime is a lazy, disinterested waste of space in Labour's team, or the fact that Labour's been busted almost lying about this. So let me get you across what happened, and you can decide for yourself.  In March, Willow Jean Prime took over the Labour Party education portfolio from Jan Tonetti, and her National Party counterpart, Erika Stanford, sent her a text to say congrats and I need to get you up to speed with the NCEA change process. It would be good if we could meet first and I can run you through where we're at. There is a policy advisory group of principals who are working on the details. You can have access to them as well as my officials and also NZQA.  Willow Jean does not bother to reply.  Two months later in May, Erica's office sends an email saying, basically, haven't heard from Willow Jean, would like to ensure cross-party engagement can continue. Can we set up a meeting?  Willow Jean doesn't bother to reply.  A month later in mid-Junne, Erica personally writes again, Willow Jean, yeah, you know, doesn't bother to reply. Next month, July, Erica then goes up a level and writes to Chippy. He doesn't reply either, but then the next day Willow Jean finally does reply, and she says she declines your invitation.  Fast forward now to the 25th of July and suddenly Willow Jean writes to Erica wanting to meet because she's read in the Herald that the NCEA changes are coming soon. Erica writes back, basically says to her, mate, you missed your chance, we have already made the decisions.  Chippy, meanwhile, complains publicly that the government, AKA Erika Stanford, hasn't been consulting with him and Willow Jean on the NCEA changes.  So, tell me now, having heard that, what do you think is worse? That Willow Jean can't be bothered doing her job properly, or that Chippy has an amazing ability to lie with a smile?  Now, here are the key learnings from this incident.  Willow Jean is not a serious, hardworking, or clever person, and it is not ready to be a minister. Chris Hipkins is not as honest as his lovely smiling face would make you think. Labour is thin on the ground for talent if Willow Jean Prime is #8 in their party, and don't mess with Erica because she will pull a beautiful hit job on you, which is exactly what's happened here.  But also, Labour are just rude and unprofessional. It doesn't kill you to reply to a message. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has informed his allies that he aims to meet with Vladimir Putin as soon as next week, with an additional three-way meeting including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the cards. When asked later if the leaders would attend the summit, Trump told reporters there was a 'very good prospect that they would'. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.